Prague Old Town Square protest against scrapping Czech TV fees

A large demonstration against the government's plan to abolish fees for public media took place on Prague's Old Town Square. The square filled completely, and organizers announced the next protest for Nov. 15 at Letná.

Despite the rain, the square was almost full half an hour before the start, according to a reporter, and more people kept arriving from the side streets. Organizers asked those who could not get onto the square not to push forward. Later they said crowds had filled the surrounding streets, so police were restricting access there. Participants chanted “Shame!” and “Resign!”.

The government wants to abolish the fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio and move their funding into the state budget. The bill was unexpectedly added to the Chamber of Deputies' agenda on Friday, and early on Saturday deputies sent it to a second reading. Critics, including the Milion chvilek movement, believe this would lead to the dismantling of Czech Television and Czech Radio in their current form and limit their independence. Organizers demanded that the leaders of the ruling parties admit their mistake and withdraw the bill.

On Friday, people unhappy with the coalition's actions had already gathered on Malostranské Square near the Chamber of Deputies. Theater workers joined them, and Czech Television staff announced a strike. On Saturday, rallies in support of public media were also held in Brno, Liberec and České Budějovice. According to city hall, about four thousand people came to Freedom Square in Brno.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz