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The Czech government is preparing a new proposal for the financing of public‑broadcasting services that would remove direct funding from the state budget. Instead, television and radio licence fees could remain voluntary, according to Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who announced the plan in a discussion programme on Nova TV on Saturday. Babiš said the coalition would not restrict debate on the second reading of the draft bill that would abolish concession fees in the Chamber of Deputies. “We will not restrict the second reading at all; everyone can speak freely,” he told the audience. The Chamber is expected to consider the proposal after a committee review in January. The Ministry of Finance is developing an alternative model. “We will propose voluntary fees – those who want to pay, those who do not will not pay. We will guarantee a certain amount. I want to bring a proposal where the money does not come directly from the state budget,” Babiš explained. The coalition council is scheduled to discuss the detailed proposal on Monday. On Friday, 23 October, the coalition unexpectedly moved the point on changing the financing of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) to the top of the agenda. The amendment, introduced by Speaker Tomio Okamura, was voted on Saturday at 4:36 am. Outside the Chamber, a crowd of protesters gathered and remained there until the early morning. At one point, demonstrators attempted to break into the building, but police intervened and prevented them. Babiš later compared the incident to the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Opposition parties criticised both the proposal and the manner in which it was debated. They alleged that the changes would nationalise the two public broadcasters, threaten their independence, or even lead to their liquidation. The government, however, maintains that the new financing scheme does not constitute an attack on democracy. Article source: HN Online | Image credit: HN Online
The Czech government is preparing a new proposal for the financing of public‑broadcasting services that would remove direct funding from the state budget. Instead, television and radio licence fees could remain voluntary, according to Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, who announced the plan in a discussion programme on Nova TV on Saturday. Babiš said the coalition would not restrict debate on the second reading of the draft bill that would abolish concession fees in the Chamber of Deputies. “We will not restrict the second reading at all; everyone can speak freely,” he told the audience. The Chamber is expected to consider the proposal after a committee review in January. The Ministry of Finance is developing an alternative model. “We will propose voluntary fees – those who want to pay, those who do not will not pay. We will guarantee a certain amount. I want to bring a proposal where the money does not come directly from the state budget,” Babiš explained. The coalition council is scheduled to discuss the detailed proposal on Monday. On Friday, 23 October, the coalition unexpectedly moved the point on changing the financing of Czech Television (ČT) and Czech Radio (ČRo) to the top of the agenda. The amendment, introduced by Speaker Tomio Okamura, was voted on Saturday at 4:36 am. Outside the Chamber, a crowd of protesters gathered and remained there until the early morning. At one point, demonstrators attempted to break into the building, but police intervened and prevented them. Babiš later compared the incident to the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Opposition parties criticised both the proposal and the manner in which it was debated. They alleged that the changes would nationalise the two public broadcasters, threaten their independence, or even lead to their liquidation. The government, however, maintains that the new financing scheme does not constitute an attack on democracy.
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