Prague students rally for public media and call on culture minister to resign

University students gathered on Prague’s náměstí Republiky on Tuesday to defend public-service media and independent culture, calling for Culture Minister Oto Klempíř to resign.

Speakers criticized the government’s proposal to replace television and radio fees with state-budget funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio. The demonstration also addressed university and research funding, broadening its demands beyond broadcasting.

ČTK reporters estimated attendance in the high hundreds, while organizers reported 4,000 participants. The crowd filled the space between the Municipal House and the UniCredit Bank building, extending across the tram tracks toward Palladium.

The rally opened with chants of “We won’t give up culture!” and “We won’t give up the media!”

Representatives of the Academy of Performing Arts said their concerns included transparent, sustainable financing for public universities and Czech science.

FAMU student Josef Procházka called for Klempíř’s resignation and the removal of newly appointed members of the government’s Human Rights Council and the Czech Radio Council. The demands drew applause and cheers.

Charles University journalism students Jiřina Marešová and Michaela Kubečková said they had sent the government an open letter signed by 2,317 people, expressing concern about the future independence of public-service broadcasting.

Charles University Rector Jiří Zima supported students’ right to speak out on public affairs and highlighted education funding.

He said the Czech Rectors Conference had identified a need for CZK 11 billion in additional education funding that universities had yet to receive.

Reporters Without Borders director Thibaut Bruttin told protesters that concerns about Czech public-service media extended beyond the country.

“You are not alone,” he said, warning against weakening the broadcasters to the point where they fall under state control.

Eliška Drbohlavová of the initiative Stojíme za kulturou called on the government to withdraw its proposal to abolish broadcast fees. She also supported demands for Klempíř to step down.

Students from the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design criticized what they described as a lack of transparency and unwillingness to hold expert discussions.

Other speakers emphasized broadcasting’s role in explaining research. Public-service media form an important bridge between scientists and the public, University of Chemistry and Technology student Lucie Hlaváčková said.

Student protests were also planned Tuesday in cities including Brno, Ostrava, Olomouc, Plzeň, Pardubice and Zlín. The events followed an all-day strike by ČT and ČRo employees on Nov. 3.

The government maintains that replacing broadcast fees fulfills an election promise and points to other European funding models. Opposition parties and protesters argue that dependence on the state budget would threaten editorial independence.