Thousands protest in Prague as government advances public media funding overhaul

On October 25, 2026, thousands of protesters gathered in Prague's Old Town Square to demonstrate against the Czech government’s plan to overhaul funding for public media. The protest followed an overnight vote in the lower house of parliament on Friday, where lawmakers approved a bill proposed by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and his coalition, including the far-right SPD party. Protesters accused the government of undermining press freedom and independence, with Mikuláš Minar, a protest leader, stating that nobody believed the intentions were pure. The plan aims to abolish household fees funding Czech Television and Radio and replace them with state budget allocations, a move critics fear will leave broadcasters vulnerable to political pressure. Despite Babiš’s claim that this is about funding transparency rather than an attack on independence, the proposal still needs approval from the upper house before becoming law.