Tens of thousands take to the streets in Czechia protests
Photo: Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
On November 15, tens of thousands of people joined a protest in Prague against the Czech government's plans to change the funding system for public media by abolishing the license fee and switching them to state funding, Reuters reports.
According to preliminary estimates by local authorities, the rally was expected to attract hundreds of thousands of participants. It was scheduled ahead of November 17, when Czechia marks the anniversary of the 1989 Velvet Revolution. The revolution brought down the communist regime and paved the way for dissident playwright Vaclav Havel to become the country's president.
As the outlet reports, Letna Park began filling up rapidly on Sunday. The crowd was so large that protesters blocked nearby metro stations. Some participants wore pointed hats made from rolled-up newspapers. This was a tribute to an animated character who had been a symbol of bedtime stories on Czech television for decades.
The government of Prime Minister Andrej Babis, which relies on support from the far-right SPD party and the eurosceptic Motorists party, has accused both private and public media outlets of biased reporting.
The ruling coalition is pushing a bill to cancel the monthly television and radio license fee. Currently set at 205 korunas ($9.26), the fee is a source of funding for broadcasters. The bill has already passed an initial vote and is awaiting further consideration.
In response to the plans, employees of Czech public television and radio went on a one-day strike in early November, resulting in reduced broadcasting hours. Members of the arts community and students also organized rallies in support of the broadcasters.
Earlier, it was reported that protests in France escalated into clashes with police, with many people detained.
