Commentary
Democratic Security
Bulgaria’s Presidency Will Be Decided in The Sea
24 October 2026
27 October 2026
The first step towards the de facto state takeover of Czech Television and Czech Radio is now complete. What are the implications for Czechia’s democracy?
At an overnight session on Saturday, Czechia’s deputies pushed through the first reading of a bill abolishing radio and television licence fees. It would transfer funding for the public-service media, which the government finds inconvenient, to the state budget.
It is undeniably the greatest political and also social conflict of this electoral term, and not only of this one. The Czech government has brought upon itself a strike by the television and radio broadcasters and, at the same time, mass public protests. Why did it do so, and what will the results and consequences of this step be?