Chamber of Deputies approves first reading of abolition of…

Chamber of Deputies approves first reading of abolition of fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio

25.10.2026 15:01 HotInfo

The Chamber of Deputies, in the night before Saturday, approved in first reading a government bill to abolish television and radio fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio. The bill was pushed through by the coalition of ANO, SPD, and Motoristé sobě. The opposition attempted to reject the proposal or send it back for reworking, but its motions were unsuccessful. denik.cz ↗

Prime Minister Andrej Babiš stated that before the second reading he wants to leave room for debate for the opposition. At the same time, he said that he had spent approximately 14 hours on the phone and texting with people who disagree with the abolition of the fees. According to him, it will be possible to discuss the matter substantively during further deliberations. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗

According to Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Radim Fiala, the decision to schedule the debate for Friday and Saturday was made on Thursday evening. The opposition criticized both the speed and the manner of the deliberations and pointed to the possible impacts of the change in financing public service media. irozhlas.cz ↗

President Petr Pavel stated that the manner in which the fees are being debated raises doubts about the intentions of the bill's sponsors. Preservation of the current financing system was also supported by the Permanent Council of the Czech Bishops' Conference, which warned against endangering the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio.

The bill will now move to the next phase of parliamentary deliberation. Its final form will be discussed by deputies in the second reading, where a further clash between the governing coalition and the opposition can be expected. seznamzpravy.cz ↗