'Had enough': Thousands protest in Prague against Czech govt's media funding overhaul
Thousands of protesters in Prague are demonstrating against government plans to replace television and radio licence fees with direct state budget funding. Critics fear the move will compromise media independence and subject public broadcasters to political influence.
Why it matters
The protest highlights growing concerns over media freedom and the potential for state-controlled funding to undermine democratic oversight in Central Europe.
Thousands of people gathered in Czech Republic capital Prague on Sunday to protest against thec government's plans to overhaul the funding of public television and radio, warning that the changes could undermine media independence and expose broadcasters to political pressure.The demonstration in the historic Old Town Square and surrounding streets followed an overnight vote in the lower house of parliament that advanced legislation to abolish licence fees paid by households and businesses and replace them with direct funding from the state budget.The bill, backed by Prime Minister Andrej Babis's governing coalition, received initial approval in the early hours of Saturday after lawmakers moved it unexpectedly onto the agenda and curtailed debate.
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