Thousands join Czech protest against public media financing plan

AI Summary

Thousands of people protested in the Czech Republic against a plan to overhaul public media financing. Critics warn the changes could enable the ruling coalition to exert control over the media, echoing developments in Slovakia and Hungary.

Critics say the overhaul would give the ruling three-party coalition the means to take control of the media, similar to what populist governments did in Slovakia under Prime Minister Robert Fico and in Hungary before former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was ousted from power in April.