Czech opposition leader Andrej Babis proposes state support for public broadcasting institutions, sparking controversy and concerns about press freedom. His plan to merge Czech Radio and Television into one organization funded by the state budget has been met with criticism from journalists and media experts.
Czech opposition leader Andrej Babis hopes to return to power this fall with a plan to introduce direct state funding for Czech public media. His proposal is inspired by neighboring Slovakia, where the government has brought public radio and television under its control by linking their funding directly to the state budget.
Andrej Babiš is a Slovak-born Czech billionaire, entrepreneur, and politician.
He co-founded Agrofert, an agrochemicals company that has become one of the largest in Central Europe.
In 2017, he was elected as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic.
Babiš's business interests include media outlets, such as Mafra, a publishing house, and ČT, a public television network.
He is also the owner of the Bílý kun, a popular Czech tabloid.
Babis, who is also the head of the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens (ANO) party, wants to merge Czech Radio and Czech Television into one organization that would be funded from the state budget. This move is a departure from the current license fee model, which has remained unchanged since 2008. Babis has promised to do away with license fees altogether if re-elected.
The proposal to increase TV and radio licenses has been blocked by ANO and the right-wing populist Euroskeptic Czech Freedom and Direct Democracy party (SPD) for months. The government’s proposed increase in monthly fees from 135 to 155 Czech crowns would result in a moderate increase of €0.80 or $0.84.
A TV license, also known as a television license fee, is a mandatory payment required by law to watch live or recorded television broadcasts.
In the UK, for example, the BBC receives funding from TV licenses, which costs £157.50 per year.
Similarly, radio licenses are not always necessary, but some countries require them for specific frequencies or services.
The fees often fund public broadcasting services and support local programming.
In many places, licenses can be purchased online or through postal applications.
Babis’ plan has been met with criticism from journalists and media experts, who view it as an attempt to bring public media under government control. Ivana Sulakova, head of the Czech Syndicate of Journalists, described ANO’s plans as unacceptable, stating that they would result in a direct dependence on the political will of the highest establishment.
The current government under Prime Minister Petr Fiala has been criticized for not doing enough to strengthen the position of public media and protect them from attempts by politicians like Babis and Slovak Prime Minister ‘Robert Fico’ to bring them under government control. Senator David Smoljak, who has campaigned for greater public media independence, believes that Czech public media are more resilient than their Slovak counterparts.
Smoljak’s party, Mayors and Independents (STAN), is part of the ruling coalition, but he says that part of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS) led by Prime Minister ‘Fiala’ is opposed to strengthening public media. Despite this opposition, Smoljak remains confident that parliament will vote in favor of increasing license fees before the election.
The proposed changes to public media funding have raised concerns about press freedom and the ability of citizens to access unbiased information. Sulakova warned that if there is no public media, people cannot be sure of getting all relevant information, regardless of who holds power. The situation in Slovakia has been cited as an example of what could happen if public media are brought under government control.
Press freedom is a fundamental human right that allows individuals to access and share information without fear of censorship or retribution.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, over 250 journalists have been killed in the past decade while working on assignments.
In countries with limited press freedom, governments often use laws and regulations to silence dissenting voices and maintain control over the narrative.
The United States, for example, has a strong tradition of press freedom, enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution.
In conclusion, Babis’ proposal to introduce direct state funding for Czech public media has sparked controversy and raised concerns about press freedom. The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the future of public media in the Czech Republic.
