Thousands protest in Prague as government advances public media funding overhaul

Czechs have rallied in Prague to protest a government plan to overhaul funding for public broadcastersPRAGUE -- Czechs rallied in big numbers in Prague on Sunday to renew protests against a plan by the government led by billionaire Andrej Babiš to overhaul funding for public broadcasters that many consider dangerous for their independence.The crowd of thousands was bigger than the picturesque Old Town Square could take with many filling the nearby streets. The ruling coalition angered the protesters by unexpectedly moving ahead with the plan in the lower house of Parliament two days ago.Coalition lawmakers hastily opened the issue and limited time for the opposition to take part in the debate before taking a vote to give the draft a green light in the first of three parliamentary readings at 4:36 a.m. “We've had enough,” “This must not be allowed to pass” and “4:36,” the demonstrators chanted.“You’ve gone too far, we won’t let this country be destroyed,” Mikuláš Minář, a main organizer from the Million Moments for Democracy group said. “It is mafia syndicates or the Soviet Politburo who make decisions at 4:36." The protesters demanded a withdrawal of the draft and called on Babiš t...