Macinka bans ministry staff from appearing on Czech Television

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has temporarily banned ministry staff from appearing on Czech Television. The move was prompted by the broadcaster's decision not to invite him and the leaders of four opposition parties to its pre-election debates. The ban remains in force until polling stations close on Saturday afternoon.

Why Czech Television turned the politicians down

As the broadcaster announced on Tuesday, Macinka and the chairs of the ODS, the Pirates, KDU-ČSL and TOP 09 will not be able to take part in debates ahead of the municipal and Senate elections, which will be held this Friday and Saturday. The reason is that all of them are standing in the elections themselves, and the broadcaster's pre-election coverage rules do not allow candidates to appear on such programmes.

The opposition leaders wrote to the broadcaster asking to be allowed to take part. Macinka, who leads the governing party Motoristé sobě, called the broadcaster's decision “exceptionally stupid”.

How Czech Television responded

At ČT headquarters the criticism was rejected: the broadcaster is convinced that its rules are correct and says it will not allow itself to be dragged into a political fight. On the social network X, it also reminded readers that “state institutions are not the private property of those who currently run them”. ČT hopes that officials will do their duty and inform all media without exception.

The dispute flared up on the eve of the vote, when tensions in politics are already running high. Macinka explained his actions in an interview in which he was also asked whether it is fair to make ministry employees hostages of political clashes.

Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz