Czech government’s media‑funding draft faces city council and parliamentary pushback

The Czech government’s proposed media financing law, drafted by Culture Minister Oto Klempíř, would replace licence‑fee payments for Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) with a fixed state‑budget allocation. The bill, slated to take effect next year, has drawn criticism from multiple ministries, opposition parties, and the heads of the two broadcasters.

In Hradec Králové, the city council adopted a resolution condemning any measures that could endanger regional public‑media studios. Opposition councilor Ivan Picek called the current financing “a head‑tax” and warned against a shift toward a model “like in Hungary.” Government‑aligned councilor Denis Doksanský dismissed the move as activist posturing, claiming the government seeks “maximum independence and objective reporting.”

Parliamentary criticism intensified when MP František Talíř said, “Oto Klempíř is among several mill‑stones; he cannot even read the law properly.” Media staff entered strike‑ready status on 22 April, demanding the government abandon the proposal. The coalition council is set to discuss the draft on 25 May, after which it will move to the cabinet and eventually the Chamber of Deputies.