Police cleared the public gallery of the Chamber of Deputies in Prague during an October 23, 2026, debate on abolishing public broadcasting fees.
Opposition Backlash and Demand for Internal Investigation
The forceful clearing of the public gallery during the overnight session prompted swift political retaliation. Martin Kupka, leader of the opposition ODS, formally appealed to Police Martin Vondrášek to launch a thorough and independent review of the Protective Service’s actions. Kupka argued that public access to parliamentary debates is a cornerstone of democratic oversight and questioned the legal basis for ejecting visitors who merely held up signs.
The tension quickly spilled across government lines when Jana Černochová visited the gallery herself to witness the operation. She reported that officers threatened to eject her as well while she observed MP Martin Kolovratník praising the security team for their handling of the crowd. Černochová condemned the praise as unacceptable.
Under mounting political pressure, Police President Vondrášek confirmed that the internal control department of the Protective Service opened a formal inquiry into the Friday operation. Lubomír Metnar defended the police presence, stating that officers were tasked with maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of all individuals inside the protected building. Tomio Okamura characterized the incidents as severe violence, while the Protective Service, represented by spokesperson Tomáš Procházka, initiated a comprehensive evaluation of the response.
Police Detain Filmmaker After Protesters Target Parliamentary Building
While deputies debated the abolition of fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio inside the chamber, hundreds of demonstrators gathered on Malostranské náměstí outside. Police reported that a group of several dozen individuals attempted to force their way into the parliamentary building, prompting authorities to temporarily seal off Sněmovní and Nerudova streets.
Látkový transparent není zbraň. A nesouhlas s vládou není bezpečnostní hrozba!To, co se odehrálo na galerii Poslanecké sněmovny, považuji za naprosto nepřijatelné. Policisté Ochranné služby takto nepřiměřeným způsobem vyváděli lidi, kteří prošli bezpečnostní kontrolou a jejichž… pic.twitter.com/WpnzO0NaDN
During the street demonstrations just after midnight, police detained filmmaker Kateřina Dudová after a cobblestone was hurled toward the legislative building. Dudová acknowledged her involvement in messages to reporters, stating that she threw the stone out of frustration with government policies affecting cultural institutions and public broadcasting oversight, and noted that she would take it back if she could.
Kateřina Dudová said, I threw a cobblestone toward the Chamber of Deputies and was subsequently pacified by the police, who are dealing with me in a misdemeanor proceeding,
according to Seznam Zprávy.
Police spokesperson Eva Kropáčová confirmed that the individual was secured on suspicion of a misdemeanor, though no other criminal charges related to the street breach were immediately filed. Government figures seized on the unrest to condemn the protests, with Andrej Babiš comparing the chaotic scenes to the storming of the United States Capitol, while photographer Petr Topič noted on social media that multiple paving stones flew through the air.
Advancing the Broadcasting Fee Legislation Through Parliament
The chaotic security incidents unfolded against the backdrop of an intense legislative battle over public media funding. Coalition lawmakers pushed through a preliminary debate to advance a bill that would abolish mandatory license fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio, shifting their financial backing onto the state budget.
The controversial proposal triggered continuous disruption within the chamber, including loud protests from the gallery when František Talíř took the podium. Despite opposition resistance and all-night procedural maneuvers, the governing coalition successfully advanced the legislation to its second reading in the early morning hours at 4:36.
