Babiš-led coalition pushes controversial public-media funding change during night session

In an unexpected overnight gathering, the governing coalition initiated a debate on changing the way Česká televize and Czech Radio receive state funding. The meeting proceeded without prior notice to many parliamentarians and was accompanied by disputes, rule-bending, and vocal clashes among participants. Outside the Sněmovna, citizens assembled in protest, a demonstration that persisted into the weekend.

Journalists Zdislava Pokorná and Karolína Blažková reported directly from the parliamentary hall and the surrounding protest sites, providing a detailed account of the events. The episode was later examined in a podcast episode of Vrtěti psem, which is available on major streaming platforms. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the government and public-media institutions.