On Sunday, after more than two weeks, people gathered again on the Old Town Square in Prague to protest against the draft law on public service media. This should, among other things, abolish concession fees and tie the financing of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) to the state budget. The protesters marched from the square through the center to the government office, reports TASR in Prague.
This is already the third event organized by the Milion chvilek association on this topic in May. First, people in Prague buried Czech Radio, and last week there were protests in all regional cities. “This is the third action in a row, and the government politicians led by (Minister of Culture Ot) Klempíř are still squirming… It’s time to show the politicians that we are serious and that we will not put the media in their hands,” stated the association Milion chvilek in the invitation to the protest.
“Hands off the media”
The gathering continued with a protest march across the Charles Bridge, past the Ministry of Culture to the government office. The march stopped for a moment in front of the Ministry building. People wrapped tape around the building saying “Hands off the media” and posted “Here, wrap it” posters on the front door.
Protesters brought pots, blankets or wooden spoons with which they banged and chanted various slogans, for example “Oto, zabaľ to”, “Revoke, revoke” or “Babiša do koša”. The entire assembly lasted approximately 2.5 hours. At the end, the organizers announced that the march was at least 1.5 kilometers long. The chairman of the association, Mikuláš Minář, announced another protest march, which should take place in a month. This time they plan to march to Czech Television.
Calls to resign
When the march reached the government office, they also wrapped this building with the same tape and left many chalk messages to the politicians on the road in front of it. “The fact that you were elected does not give you the right to abuse power, destroy institutions, buy impunity and introduce the manners of Eastern authoritarians in our country,” declared Minář in front of the government office. At the same time, he announced that he will also come to the Straka Academy on Monday before the start of the government meeting. On Sunday, the association also published a new petition calling for the dismissal of Minister Klempíř from his position.
“We, the undersigned citizens, state that the Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř has completely and irreparably failed in his role. Instead of developing and protecting Czech culture, he repeatedly damages it. And that is absolutely unacceptable. That is why we demand Mr. Klempíř’s removal from office,” Mariana Novotná Nachtigallová, vice president of the Million Moments association, quoted from the petition. “What we demand and what is our goal is that this government stops threatening the independence of CT and CRo,” she added.
Media funding proposal
In mid-April, Klempíř presented a draft of legislation by which he wants to cancel concessionaire fees from next year and finance public service media with a specific amount from the state budget. According to this proposal, both Czech Television and Czech Radio would receive less money for their activities in 2027 than they will receive from concession fees this year.
Many institutions, including ministries, reacted to the submitted proposal in the comment procedure. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš responded to the number of comments that it is “not good”, but the government will deal with them and invite the directors of both affected institutions. The government cabinet should already discuss the proposal at Monday’s meeting.
