On October 25, 2026, thousands of people protested in Prague against the public media funding reform in the Czech Republic. The protesters gathered at Old Town Square, chanting slogans such as "Resignation" and "We've had enough" to express their demands.
Reasons for the Protests
The bill that sparked public outrage proposes a 15% budget cut for Czech Television and Czech Radio. This decision was supported by the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament in its first reading just before the protests, leading to widespread demonstrations against the changes in public media funding.
Government Response
So far, the Czech authorities have not provided official comments regarding the protests, but opposition representatives have already expressed their dissatisfaction with the changes that could significantly impact the independence and quality of public media in the country. Protesters believe that budget cuts will lead to a decline in content quality and restrictions on freedom of speech.
Demands of the Protesters
The protesters have articulated several key demands:
- Cancellation of the bill proposing budget cuts for public media;
- Ensuring stable funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio;
- Support for the independence of media from political influence.
These demands reflect the citizens' concerns about the future of public media in the Czech Republic and their role in a democratic society.