Thousands protest Czech government's public media overhaul after rushed vote

Key Points:

• Thousands protested in Prague after government lawmakers fast-tracked a proposal to change public media funding, which critics say threatens media independence by moving funding from household fees to the state budget.
• The populist government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babis, supported by the far-right SPD party, argues the change is for funding transparency, but opponents warn it increases political pressure on Czech Television and Czech Radio.
• The bill passed an initial vote in an overnight session with limited debate, prompting criticism from protest leaders and media advocacy groups who accuse the government of undermining democratic processes.
• Czech public media are highly trusted and widely watched, but the proposed funding shift could cut their budgets by about 15%, raising concerns similar to media reforms in Hungary under Viktor Orban.
• The European Broadcasting Union, Reporters Without Borders, and Czech President Petr Pavel have called for more expert review and debate to ensure the financial sustainability and independence of public broadcasters.