The governing coalition will not withdraw its bill changing the funding of Czech Television and Czech Radio, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said in the wake of a massive protest against the bill on Old Town Square. He said further talks would be held on its specific provisions, with voluntary license fee payments among the options under consideration.
Babiš maintained that abolishing the license fees would change only the funding model, not threaten media independence, and pledged that the government would not interfere in the broadcasters’ editorial work or personnel matters.
Reacting to Sunday’s protest and further demonstrations planned in the coming days, the prime minister accused the opposition and the Million Moments for Democracy association of fueling divisions in society and urged them to stop.
Babiš also said he had information suggesting the issue was to be exploited in connection with events marking the anniversary of November 17, the day commemorating the struggle for freedom and democracy in the Czech Republic.