Babiš refuses public debate on scrapping media licence fees

27.10.2026 07:01 HotInfo

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš refused Czech Radio general director René Zavoral's call for a public debate on the planned abolition of licence fees. The governing coalition pushed the proposal through its first reading in the Chamber of Deputies during an overnight session from Friday to Saturday. seznamzpravy.cz ↗

Babiš did not take part in the vote and said he had been asleep. He also claims that the first reading does not yet mean anything definitive. However, the coalition does not intend to withdraw the proposal to change the financing of Czech Television and Czech Radio for now.

The radio director demanded a public discussion on the impacts of the change. The prime minister rejected his call, citing Zavoral's alleged activist role. "It doesn't matter what he wants, what matters is what I want," Babiš said. In another response, he asked: "Why would I negotiate with him, who is he?" novinky.cz ↗

According to the Chamber's speaker Tomio Okamura, financing of public-service media amounting to approximately 7.8 billion crowns could be covered from the budget reserve intended for crisis situations. Opponents of the proposal criticize this approach and warn of risks to media independence. forum24.cz ↗

The Minister of Culture admitted that possible changes to the law on financing Czech Television and Czech Radio could occur. Until they are adopted, the current licence fee system is to remain in place. Babiš also mentioned the possibility of voluntary payment. Protests are being held against the plans, and some media outlets have announced a strike. teraz.sk ↗