Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in the Czech capital, Prague, on Saturday to oppose the policies of Prime Minister Andrej Babis and his coalition government, accusing it of what they termed "arrogance of power." Organizers from the Million Moments for Democracy movement estimated that over 200,000 people filled the Letna plain, though this figure has not been independently verified.
Protesters accused Babis of steering the country away from democratic values and aligning with the pro-Russia policies of Hungary and Slovakia. Mikulas Minar, the head organizer, stated, "We're here to clearly stand against dragging our country onto the path of Slovakia and Hungary." In addition to foreign policy concerns, demonstrators warned against draft legislation resembling Russian-style restrictions on civil society.
Babis, who previously served as prime minister from 2017 to 2021, returned to power after his ANO movement won big in the October election, forming a majority coalition with the anti-migrant Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the right-wing Motorists for Themselves. The new government has begun to significantly redefine the nation's foreign and domestic policies, rejecting key EU environmental and migration policies and refusing financial aid for Ukraine.
The government is also preparing a foreign agents law that would require non-governmental organizations and individuals involved in political activity and receiving foreign aid to register or face large fines. Vaclav Paces, the former head of the Academy of Sciences, told the crowd, "This law can easily be used to restrict personal freedom."
Organizers said they called the rally after parliament's lower house rejected a motion to lift Babis's immunity in a $2 million EU subsidy fraud case, blocking a court verdict until his term ends in 2029. Lawmakers also refused to allow the prosecution of lower house Speaker Tomio Okamura on charges of inciting hatred. The Million Moments group criticized these decisions, saying they divide the nation into "the ordinary people and the untouchables."
More protests are planned in the near future, reflecting growing societal friction over the government's direction and its alleged democratic backsliding.
Source: www.dw.com