Mass protest in Prague against the Babis government: "We do not want to be Hungary"

Tens of thousands of Czechs protested on Saturday, March 21, 2026, in Prague, against the government of Andrej Babis, in the largest anti-government demonstration in the Czech Republic since 2019. The organization Milion Chvilek estimated the attendance at around 250,000 people, who demanded respect for press freedom and challenged cuts in defense spending. The protesters, including young people like Tomas Chaloupka, emphasized the importance of democracy and freedom in the face of fears that the government could undermine these fundamental values.

Criticism of the government focuses on plans to change the funding of public television and to tighten transparency rules for NGOs. Babis, who returned to power in December, is accused of steering the country towards a model similar to that of Hungary or Slovakia.

The protest comes after a demonstration in February that supported President Petr Pavel against the Babis administration.