Czech public media under attack - with Markéta Gregorová - Sunday's Prague protests with Nicolae Ștefănuță

Media freedom, rule of law in the Czech Republic and the Andrej Babiš government´s threats to the independence of public broadcasters will be on today´s plenary agenda. Members of the European Parliament will discuss the recently introduced new media law proposed by the Andrej Babiš government and the direct attacks on public broadcasters.

The plenary debate was requested by the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, together with EPP, at the initiative of the Greens/EFA. Today´s debate will be followed by a resolution (timing for the vote on the resolution still to be confirmed).

Nicolae Ștefănuță, Co-President of the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament, who will participate in this Sunday's manifestation in Prague, comments:

“Media freedom is not only freedom for the media, it means freedom for the citizens and their fundamental liberties. Without media freedom, there is no true democracy. We cannot allow Czechia to follow the path Hungary once took, when public media were turned into instruments of political power.”

Markéta Gregorová, Greens/EFA MEP and member of the Czech Pirates, who will take the floor on behalf of the Greens/EFA in tonight’s plenary debate, comments:

"Free and independent media are the backbone of European democracy. When governments seek control over public broadcasters, they threaten not only press freedom, but the public’s right to hold those in power accountable. Public media belong neither to the government nor the opposition, but to the people. We call upon the European Commission to stand on the side of Czech citizens and use the European Media Freedom Act to defend independent media in the Czech Republic."

Follow the plenary debate today (Wednesday, 11 November):

Plenary debate “Media freedom and rule of law in the Czech Republic: threats to the independence of public broadcasters” today from around 7:30pm on, Greens/EFA MEP Markéta Gregorová (Pirates member of the Greens/EFA) will take the floor. 

Photo op tomorrow (Thursday, 12 November) 13.00:

The initiative “Brussels for Independent Media” invites to a photo action in front of the Spinelli entrance to the European Parliament, tomorrow (Thursday, 12 November) at 13.00 to show they are on the side of Czech public media under attack.

Prague protests this Sunday (15 November, starting 2pm) - with Co-President Nicolae Ștefănuță:

Greens/EFA Co-President Nicolae Ștefănuță will be one of tens of thousands of protesters expected to taking the streets in Prague this Sunday. The big manifestation against the Czech government´s Orbán-style power grab against public media comes after more than 25.000 protested in Prague against the new media law on 25 October. The new law was introduced in the dead of night by the Patriots/ESN-led government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and the extreme right.