Thousands rally in Prague against government’s public broadcasting overhaul plan
Critics say the plan to fund public radio and TV from the state budget would give the coalition government a means to control the media
Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence.
According to the plan approved last week, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget starting next year, and not from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses.
“The media don’t belong to politicians,” Mikulas Minar, a main organiser from the Million Moments for Democracy group said. “They belong to us all and we won’t allow them to be stolen from us.”
Babis, members of his government and loyal lawmakers have a record of attacks against the public and other mainstream media.