Babiš: Czech TV and radio fee abolition law will not be withdrawn

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said before leaving for Algeria that the ruling coalition will not withdraw its bill on new funding for public media. However, the final shape of the law is still to be discussed: in the second reading, the prime minister said, proposals will include an option to pay the fees voluntarily.

Babiš described the abolition of the fees not as an attack on democracy and media independence, but merely as a change in how they are funded. According to him, the authorities will never interfere in the editorial work of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) or in personnel matters.

What the bill proposes

The amendment shifts the funding of both outlets to the state budget. According to its text, Czech Television will receive 5.74 billion crowns from the budget next year, roughly a billion less than it had planned to collect from fees this year. Czech Radio will receive 2.065 billion crowns, about 400 million less.

Babiš previously said the funding would be written directly into law as a mandatory expense and tied to inflation. At present, he said, politicians can determine the size of the fees, and the new model will limit their direct influence. The goal, as he explained it, is stable and predictable funding that allows planning of operations and investment several years ahead.

The prime minister said he has already met ČT director Hynek Chudárek several times and plans further meetings. ČRo director René Zavoral, Babiš said, refuses to discuss the issue. The ČTK agency is trying to obtain Zavoral's position.

Protests and mutual accusations

Responding to past and planned demonstrations, the prime minister repeated that the opposition and the “Million Moments for Democracy” association are dividing society, and urged them to stop. He said he hopes nobody in Czechia wants attacks on politicians like those in Slovakia, or smashed shop windows and burned cars like on a Paris street.

According to Babiš, the association published his phone numbers and he received around 6,700 messages, some containing threats, such as being shot. He also claims to have information that the abolition of the fees is to be used in connection with the November 17 anniversary. He said he respects the right of citizens and ČT and ČRo employees to protest. ČTK is seeking the association's position.

The Chamber of Deputies unexpectedly added the bill to the agenda on Friday and, after heated disputes, sent it to the second reading at 4:36 a.m. on Saturday with the votes of the governing deputies. The opposition failed to have it rejected or returned to the government for revision; it intends to fight the bill at later stages. Babiš promised to give the opposition room: in his words, the debate can go on for weeks.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz