Bill to abolish public media fees passes first reading
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A government proposal to scrap television and radio fees passed its first reading in the Chamber of Deputies, an outcome the ruling coalition secured by adjusting the parliamentary schedule. The opposition, describing the move to fund broadcasters directly from the state budget as an attempt to nationalize the media, has promised that relations with the government will now deteriorate.
Protesters gathered outside the Parliament building to demand the government's resignation, while police were required to eject several individuals from the chamber itself. The Prime Minister, Andrej Babiš, has taken the unusual step of personally phoning citizens who wrote to him to object to the bill. Separately, both he and his deputy have increased their oversight of the Ministry of Defence following a loss of confidence in Jaromír Zůna.
The ministry's own staff have begun complaining openly about its operations. For Mr Zůna, the scrutiny from above and the dissent from below suggests the situation may potentially lead to a change in his position.