Thousands of Czechs took to the streets of Brno against the transfer of media under state control
About 4,000 people gathered in Freedom Square in Brno, Czech Republic, to oppose plans to transfer Czech television and radio to state funding
Around 4,000 people gathered in Brno’s Freedom Square to protest against plans to transfer Czech television and radio to state funding. Protesters fear that changing the system will lead to a loss of public media independence. This is reported by the agency ChTK.
The event was organized by the Million Moments for Democracy Association. Similar rallies were held in other Czech cities on Saturday. The next day, the protest is planned to be held in Old Town Square in Prague. Organizers expect to gather about 10 thousand participants there.
The reason for the speeches was the decision of deputies of the lower house of parliament, who on Saturday night approved in the first reading amendments to the legislation on mass media. The document provides for the abandonment of the current system of monthly contributions of citizens and companies and the transition to financing television and radio from the national budget.
Now the monthly payment is 150 kroner, which is equivalent to about seven dollars. Opponents of the reform believe the new order will make the two leading public media outlets dependent on the government.
Opposition MPs criticized the initiative. However, the ruling coalition, which has a majority in the lower house - 108 seats against 92 for the opposition - secured its approval. Now the bill is to be considered by parliamentary committees, after which it will return to the plenary session.
According to the government’s preliminary plans, the budgets of Czech television and Czech radio could be cut by about 15% after the funding model changes. Both organizations have warned that it threatens to shut down a number of popular programs and lay off several hundred employees, including technical staff.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis urged the opposition not to increase tensions in society. He rejected allegations of nationalization of the media and said that state funding for the leading media is used in about half of European countries, including France.
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