PHOTO/VIDEO Tens of thousands of Czechs protested against the government in Prague. “We don't want to be Hungary”
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Prague on Saturday to protest defense spending cuts and fears that Andrej Babis' government could crack down on press freedom, in what Reuters described as the biggest anti-government demonstration in the Czech Republic since 2019.
The organizers estimated the attendance at approximately 250,000 people.
“I'm here because I care about the future of my country,” said 22-year-old Tomas Chaloupka. “It upsets me that the current government is trying to manipulate the free and independent press, and freedom and democracy are paramount,” the protester stressed.
Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his ANO party returned to power in December after four years in opposition. Right-wing and far-right parties are also part of the governing coalition.
A MASSIVE crowd on Prague's Letná plain on Saturday protested against govt. of Andrej Babiš — seen as turning 🇨🇿 towards east — over planned changes to public broadcasters, cutting defense spending, floating idea of Russia-style “foreign agent law”, etc.
— Ian Willoughby (@Ian_Willoughby) March 21, 2026
“It's time to wake up”
The organizers of the protest, Milion Chvilek (One Million Moments for Democracy), claim that the country risks following the path of Slovakia or Hungary, which had disagreements with the European Commission on issues related to the rule of law.
“We don't want to be Hungary,” said teacher Hana Malanikova. “We don't want to follow the path of the Slovak Republic. So it's time to wake up,” she added.
A large-scale protest also took place in February, in support of President Petr Pavel, who confronted the Babis administration over ministerial appointments and defense spending. That demonstration attracted around 90,000 people.
Critics of the government are calling for cuts in defense spending, plans to change funding for public television, which they say would harm its independence, and tougher transparency rules for non-governmental organizations.
Babis, who built a business empire in the food, chemical and agricultural sectors, also served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021. Milion Chvilek organized similar protests in 2019, which attracted more than 200,000 people.
