Czech Parliament approves budget amid media fee controversy

The Czech Parliament has approved the basic parameters for the 2027 state budget, which includes a projected deficit of 386 billion CZK. This fiscal decision coincides with intense political debate regarding the financing of public media, specifically Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo).

The government coalition has moved to abolish traditional license fees, proposing instead to fund public media through the state budget. This transition would require approximately 8 billion CZK annually. Opposition parties, including ANO and SPD, have criticized the timing and transparency of the legislative process, with some members describing the late-night voting sessions as unprecedented.

While proponents argue that shifting to budget-based funding aligns with trends in several European nations, media experts warn that state-controlled funding may pose risks to political independence and transparency. Meanwhile, political figures like Tomio Okamura have suggested using budget reserves to cover the media funding gap, while others have proposed taxing the banking sector to address the growing deficit.