THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Posted 6/21/2026, 4:28:12 PM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. Other WRAL Top Stories According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and televisi…

Tens of thousands rally against new Czech government seen as a threat ... A huge crowd gathers Saturday for an antigovernment protest in Letna Park in Prague. (Michal Turek / Associated Press) By Karel Janicek March 22, 2026 11:18 AM PT 1 4 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . Tens of thousands protested in Prague against populist Andrej Babiš’ new government, comparing it to increasingly autocratic Hungary and Slovakia. Babiš’ coalition is cutting support for Ukraine and planning policies critics say threaten democratic freedoms and individual rights. Parliament’s rejection of lifting immunity for Babiš, known as the Czech Donald Trump, in a fraud case sparked anger, with protesters calling government leaders “untouchables.” PRAGUE — Tens of thousands of people protested in Prague this weekend against the policies and plans of the new Czech government led by populist, anti-immigrant Prime Minister Andrej Babis. The protesters from across the Czech Republic attende…

"No Orbanization of Czechia!": Thousands rally in Prague in support of ... Thousands of people rallied in Prague on Tuesday in support of the country’s public broadcasters, amid growing concern over a government plan to scrap license fees and make them dependent on state funds. Chants of “Hands off the media”, “Drop the bill” and “No Orbanization of Czechia” filled Prague’s Old Town Square as thousands of people voiced their concern over the fate of media freedom and democracy in the country. The protest, organized by the civic group Million Moments for Democracy, targeted the government’s proposed funding reform for Czech Radio and Czech Television. Under the plan, the current license fee system would be scrapped and both institutions would be financed from the state budget. The proposal would also reduce their overall funding. Million Moments is calling for the withdrawal of what they describe as a law intended to nationalize the public broadcasters and bring them under political control. They pointed to similar reforms in Hungary and Slovakia, which they say undermined media independence by putting financial and political pressure on the respective institutions and warned t…

Thousands rally in Prague against government’s public broadcasting overhaul plan Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague, Czech Republic, to voice their support for the media a day before their staff plan to go on a warning strike, and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and...

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Posted 6/21/2026, 4:28:12 PM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. Other WRAL Top Stories According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and televisi…

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Posted 6/21/2026, 4:28:12 PM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. Other WRAL Top Stories According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and televisi…

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Posted 6/21/2026, 4:28:12 PM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. Other WRAL Top Stories According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and televisi…

Tens of thousands of protesters rally in Prague against new government of Czech prime minister Babiš Tens of thousands of people protested in Prague on Saturday against the new Czech government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš. (AP video shot by: Stanislav Hodina) People gather to take part in a large anti-government protest in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michal Turek) People gather to take part in a large anti-government protest in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michal Turek) People gather to take part in a large anti-government protest in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michal Turek) People gather to take part in a large anti-government protest in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, March 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Michal Turek) PRAGUE (AP) — Tens of thousands of people protested in Prague on Saturday against the policies and plans of the new Czech government led by populist Prime MinisterAndrej Babiš. The protesters from across the Czech Republic attended the peaceful demonstration at Letná park, the scene of huge gatherings in 1989 that greatly contributed to the fall of communism.…

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Posted 6/21/2026, 4:28:12 PM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. Other WRAL Top Stories According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and televisi…

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the ... Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime MinisterAndrej Babišto overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protestersgathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike, and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. According to the plan approved last week, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget starting next year, and not from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses. Critics say that change would…

Thousands rally in Prague in support of public media Thousands of people gathered on Old Town Square on Tuesday to protest against a proposed overhaul of public media financing which they fear would undermine media independence. The protest, titled “Hands Off the Media”, was organized by the civic group Million Moments for Democracy. The organizers are demanding the withdrawal of a proposed bill that would make the country’s broadcasters dependent on state finances and an end to what they describe as efforts to bring Czech Television and Czech Radio under political control. A petition titled Hands Off the Media, has already collected around 170,000 signatures. Speakers highlighted the historic role of public media in 1945, 1968 and 1989 when they became the voice of resistance and the struggle for freedom, telling the crowd that the time had now come to defend Czech radio and television from politicians.

Czechia: Thousands march in support of public media funding Prime Minister Andrej Babis' government has been accused of seeking to take control over Czech public media. The plan would leave broadcasters with a 15% funding cut and no guarantees of continued future funding.

Thousands of Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of public broadcasters PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. Posted 6/21/2026, 4:28:12 PM Related Associated Press AP Politics AP World news Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague. Other WRAL Top Stories According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and televisi…

Thousands to join Prague protest in support of Czech Television and ... Thousands of people are expected to gather in central Prague on Sunday afternoon for a protest in support of Czech Television and Czech Radio, as public debate intensifies over a controversial proposal to change how the country’s public broadcasters are funded. The demonstration, organized by the civic group Milion chvilek, will begin at Old Town Square and proceed toward the Government Office. Organizers say they plan to deliver a petition with more than 180,000 signatures calling for the withdrawal of a draft law that would replace public broadcasting fees with funding directly from the state budget. The protest comes amid growing political and institutional tensions over the future of public media financing in Czechia, with critics warning the proposal could undermine the independence of national broadcasters. At the center of the dispute is agovernment-backed draft lawthat would shift funding for Czech Television and Czech Radio away from traditional license fees and instead allocate a fixed amount from the state budget. Supporters of the change argue it would simplify and stabilize funding for public …

Thousands of people took to the streets in Prague to protest the reform ... Thousands of people took to the streets in Prague to protest the reform of public media funding Kyiv • UNN June 21 2026, 05:17 PM • 1608 views Mass protests took place in Prague, Czech Republic, against changes to media funding; according to protesters, such changes could affect the transparency of media operations. In the center of Prague, thousands of people took part in a march against planned changes to the public media funding system, which critics say could weaken their independence. Reuters reports, writes UNN . Details The protest took place a day before the planned strike by employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio. Participants in the action opposed the decision of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's government to abolish license fees, which are currently the main source of funding for public broadcasters. The authorities propose to finance television and radio directly from the state budget, explaining this by the reluctance of the majority of citizens to pay mandatory contributions. Critics speak of a threat to media independence Protest organizer Mikuláš Minář from the civic initiative "Million…

Thousands of people march to protest against a government plan to change public broadcaster funding in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) PRAGUE (AP) — Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals and Prague . According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget starting next year, and not from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Critics say that change would give the three-party coalition government a means to take control of the media following the examples of populist governments in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and Hungary under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán . “The…

Czechs rally against a government plan to overhaul the funding of ... Thousands of Czechs are rallying in Prague to protest a government plan to overhaul the funding for public broadcasters PRAGUE --Thousands of Czechs rallied in the capital on Sunday to condemn a plan by the government led by populist Prime MinisterAndrej Babišto overhaul funding for public broadcasters that is considered dangerous for their independence. The protesters gathered in front of the Czech public television offices in Prague to voice their support for the media a day before their staffers plan to go on a warning strike and after recent protest marches in the regional capitals andPrague. According to the plan approved by the government on Monday, public radio and television would be financed from the state budget starting next year, and not from fees paid by individuals, households and businesses. Critics say that change would give the three-party coalition government a means to take control of the media following the examples of populist governments inSlovakiaunder Prime MinisterRobert FicoandHungaryunder former Prime MinisterViktor Orbán. “The media don’t belong to politicians,” Mikuláš Minář, a …