Protests in support of Czech Television and Czech Radio…

Protests in support of Czech Television and Czech Radio, Klempíř negotiated with unions and reports partial agreement

05.05.2026 19:00 HotInfo

The conflict over the government proposal by Culture Minister Ota Klempíř to abolish licence fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio continues to escalate. On Tuesday, the Chamber of Deputies' Media Committee approved a resolution calling on Klempíř to withdraw the bill from the inter-ministerial comment procedure. The committee is chaired by František Talíř of KDU-ČSL, who pushed the item through with opposition votes. Government deputies are up in arms against the decision. Meanwhile, the trade unions of Czech Television and Czech Radio have declared a state of strike readiness. zpravy.aktualne.cz ↗

On Tuesday, May 5, another massive demonstration in support of public-service media took place in Prague. The Million Moments for Democracy association called a protest march that set out from Old Town Square toward Czech Radio. Thousands of people took part in the event, expressing their opposition to the government's plan to abolish the fees. It is another in a series of events in support of the independence of Czech Television and Czech Radio. idnes.cz ↗

On the same day, the Minister of Culture met with representatives of the trade union organizations of Czech Television and Czech Radio. According to a statement by the Ministry of Culture, they reached partial agreement. However, the specific details of the agreement were not disclosed. Despite criticism of his decision, Klempíř is standing his ground and describes the committee's decision as "childish political theater." The minister admitted that the specific amounts the government is planning for the budgets of both institutions could still change in the bill. According to him, the main reason for abolishing the fees is a survey in which people said they do not want to pay the fees. seznamzpravy.cz ↗

The management of Czech Radio is voicing its position publicly. The head of Czech Radio, René Zavoral, stated during a memorial event marking the 81st anniversary of the May Uprising that public-service media "were on the right side of history and remain so now." novinky.cz ↗

Media analysts and the opposition continue their criticism. Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Patrik Nacher (ANO) warns that while licence fees themselves do not guarantee independence, abolishing them and shifting funding to the state budget carries risks. Nacher argues that the fees are no longer "fees, but another tax." Martin Baxa (ODS) warns against the so-called Hungarian path and state control of the media. The Association of Private Broadcasters (APSV) welcomes the fact that the proposal has opened a public debate on the role of public-service media. info.cz ↗

The Chamber's Control Committee supports strengthening oversight. It approved a constitutional amendment granting the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ) the power to audit the finances of Czech Television and Czech Radio. The governing coalition now wants to convene an extraordinary session for the third reading of the government proposal concerning public budgets and the state budget. The opposition is threatening to block it. respekt.cz ↗

Meanwhile, Czech Television continues its acquisitions idnes.cz ↗

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