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Summary for: Overnight protests mark Czech media funding vote as opposition vows fightHundreds of demonstrators stayed outside the Czech parliament through the night as governing MPs advanced a controversial overhaul of public-media funding at 4:36 a.m. Saturday.
The bill would replace television and radio license fees with direct state funding, reducing the broadcasters’ combined income by approximately CZK 1.4 billion next year. It cleared its first reading after opposition attempts to reject it or return it to the government failed.
Opposition leaders promised further resistance through amendments and parliamentary debate. The legislation now goes to the media and culture committee; the fees have not been abolished.
Protesters remain until the early-morning vote
People began gathering on Prague’s Malostranské náměstí at around 1 p.m. Friday after the coalition unexpectedly prioritized the bill. Several hundred were still there after 4 a.m., awaiting the vote.
At one point Friday evening, dozens of demonstrators tried to enter the parliamentary building. Police prevented them from doing so and guarded entrances overnight. The crowd gradually dispersed after the vote.
Further protests are planned, including a Milion chvilek gathering on Old Town Square at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25.
Czech Television and Czech Radio employees have also announced an all-day strike for Nov. 3. Their Veřejnoprávně initiative argues that direct state funding would threaten the institutions’ independence and stability.
The government rejects that interpretation. Culture Minister Oto Klempíř described the proposed model as a common European arrangement and denied it represented an attack on democracy.
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who did not participate in the vote, said afterward that the government was fulfilling its promises.
Opposition challenges the process and promises amendments
The coalition of ANO, SPD and the Motorists imposed a fixed voting time and speaking limits, restricting the opening debate to approximately nine hours.
Sixty-five lawmakers registered to speak did not reach the podium. The full sitting lasted approximately 20 hours, including breaks.
ODS leader Martin Kupka accused the coalition of trampling parliamentary rules and said the opposition would do everything possible to stop the proposal becoming law.
Pirate leader Zdeněk Hřib emphasized that the vote was only the first stage. He promised amendments and argued that abolishing fees would not eliminate the public’s contribution: people would instead pay through taxation.
STAN leader Vít Rakušan described the handling of the debate as unprecedented, while TOP 09 leader Matěj Ondřej Havel thanked demonstrators for remaining outside throughout the cold night.
Both opposition motions—to reject the bill and to return it for revision—received 81 votes from the 177 MPs present, insufficient to pass.
Under the proposal, Czech Television would receive CZK 5.74 billion next year and Czech Radio CZK 2.065 billion, approximately CZK 1 billion and CZK 400 million below their respective expected fee income this year.
The parliamentary sitting was adjourned until Nov. 3, the same day as the planned employee strike. Committee scrutiny and further readings remain ahead.
