Czech Minister Oto Klempíř Faces Prague Protests Over Media Funding Shift

Thousands of demonstrators gathered on Prague's Old Town Square on Sunday, organized by the civic group Milion chvilek pro demokracii, to support Česká televize (ČT) and Český rozhlas (ČRo). The protest marched across the Charles Bridge to the Government Office, chanting “Oto, zabal to” and demanding the resignation of Culture Minister Oto Klempíř.

Organisers presented a petition with roughly 180,000 signatures urging the repeal of a draft law that would replace licence‑fee financing of the public broadcasters with a fixed state‑budget allocation. The proposal earmarks 5.74 billion CZK for ČT and 2.07 billion CZK for ČRo from next year, cutting the current fee‑derived revenue. Critics, including Milion chvilek chairman Mikuláš Minář, said the minister “repeatedly harms Czech culture” and called for his dismissal.

The demonstration caused temporary disruptions to tram service between Újezd and Malá Strana. It follows similar rallies held earlier in the year in regional cities and earlier mass gatherings in Prague against the government’s media‑funding reforms.