Prague doesn't forget. On Saturday, the Letná Plain—a space that practically breathes the history of the 1989 Velvet Revolution—was swallowed by a sea of Czech and EU flags. This wasn't just a weekend stroll. It was a massive, visceral rejection of the new government. Organizers from the "Million Moments for Democracy" group say 250,000 people showed up. While the police usually lowball these numbers, the sheer density of the crowd made one thing clear: a huge chunk of the Czech Republic is terrified of where Prime Minister Andrej Babis is taking the country.
You're seeing a billionaire populist return to power, and he's not coming back alone. Babis has tethered his ANO movement to the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and the Motorists for Themselves. It’s a volatile cocktail of interests that has many Czechs worried they're watching a "Slovak-style" or "Hungarian-style" erosion of their institutions in real-time.
The Foreign Agent Law and the Shadow of Moscow
The biggest lightning rod for this anger isn't just Babis's personality—though that’s a factor. It’s a specific piece of legislation. The government is pushing a bill that would force NGOs and individuals receiving foreign funding to register with the state. Critics call it the "Russian Law."
If you've followed what happened in Georgia or Hungary, you know the script. These laws start under the guise of "transparency" but quickly turn into a blunt instrument to silence human rights groups and investigative journalists. During the rally, Václav Pačes, the former head of the Academy of Sciences, didn't mince words. He told the crowd that this law is a direct hit on personal freedom. When a government starts tracking who talks to whom across borders, it’s rarely about national security and almost always about control.
Abandoning Ukraine and the Orbán Alignment
Foreign policy is where the shift feels most sudden. For years, the Czech Republic was one of Ukraine’s most vocal and material supporters. That’s over. Babis has already started blocking financial aid and rejecting EU loan guarantees for Kyiv.
He’s effectively auditioning for a spot in the "Eastern Bloc" clique alongside Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Robert Fico of Slovakia. For the people standing in Letná, this feels like a betrayal of the country's Western identity. It’s not just about money; it’s about which side of history the Czech Republic wants to be on. The protesters aren't just there because they hate Babis; they're there because they don't want to be the next Kremlin satellite.
The Untouchable Billionaire and the Fraud Case
Then there’s the personal stuff. Babis is currently dodging a $2 million fraud case involving EU subsidies. He’s got parliamentary immunity, and the lower house recently voted against lifting it. This means he won't face a verdict until at least 2029, when his term ends.
This sparked a lot of the "Million Moments" rhetoric about a divided nation. You have the "ordinary people" who follow the rules and the "untouchables" who write them. It’s a classic populist move: use the system to protect yourself while claiming you’re the only one fighting for the "little guy." The irony isn't lost on the 19-year-old students or the 70-year-old pensioners who traveled by bus from the outskirts of Moravia to stand in the cold on Saturday.
Why Media Independence is the Next Battleground
Babis has also taken aim at public media. There are plans to change how public radio and television are funded, which sounds boring until you realize it gives the government a direct leash on the broadcasters. If you control the money, you control the narrative.
- Cuts to defense spending: While Russia remains a threat, the government is slashing the military budget.
- Extreme nominations: President Petr Pavel is still fighting the government over ministerial picks with ties to extremist rhetoric.
- The "Slovakia Path": Protesters repeatedly cited the recent crackdown on independent institutions in Bratislava as a warning of what's coming to Prague.
What Happens When the Shouting Stops
History shows that Babis doesn't scare easily. He’s a veteran of these protests. In 2019, he ignored similar crowds and kept his grip on power. But this time feels different because the coalition is more ideologically extreme. The inclusion of the SPD and the Motorists means the guardrails are thinner than they used to be.
If you’re wondering what you can actually do or what to watch for next, it’s all about the local "Relays for Democracy." The organizers aren't just staying in Prague. They’re taking the debate to all 13 regions of the country.
Pay attention to the upcoming parliamentary debates on the "Foreign Agent" law. That’s the real litmus test. If that passes, the "Hungarianization" of the Czech Republic moves from a fear to a reality. Don't just watch the headlines from Prague; watch how the opposition parties and the President use their remaining leverage in the Senate and the courts. The fight for the Czech Republic's soul isn't just happening in Letná; it's happening in every local council and newsroom that refuses to be bought.
Keep an eye on the "Million Moments" website for the schedule of regional debates. Supporting independent Czech media outlets like Radio Prague International or local investigative teams is the most direct way to counter the planned squeeze on public broadcasting. Underlining the importance of these institutions now is better than mourning them later.
