Thousands descend on Prague for this weekend's anti-government protest

Thousands of people in Prague gathered on Saturday for a protest organized by the non-parliamentary party PRO (Law, Respect, Expertise) in the city center, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Czech government under Prime Minister Petr Fiala. This is part of a long-running series of anti-government protests, with more expected in the autumn.

The demonstration began at Wenceslas Square, continued with a march to Prague 7’s Letná, included speeches criticizing the government, and concluded around 6:30 p.m. Protesters called for the resignation of the current government. According to protest organizers, a little over 100,000 people attended the demonstration, although national media report this number as being lower.

The demonstration temporarily disrupted traffic on Prague's highways due to the significant turnout. Dissatisfaction with the government's handling of issues such as inflation, tax changes, and pension adjustments fueled the protest. 

Additionally, critics expressed concerns about the Czech government's aid to war-torn Ukraine, relations with the U.S. and NATO, measures to reduce fossil fuel usage in the automotive industry, and Covid-19-related restrictions adopted during Fiala’s tenure.

Protest leader Jindřich Rajchl emphasized the need for a government that represents Czech citizens and voiced concerns about the Czech social and health systems’ capacity due to an influx of economic migrants from Ukraine. He also criticized the government's stance on adopting the euro and the possible ratification of the Istanbul Convention.

During the demonstration on Wenceslas Square, the police detained a man suspected of supporting Russian aggression by wearing a t-shirt with a symbol associated with the Russian mercenary Wagner Group. However, it remains unclear whether he was detained solely for this reason or as a participant in the anti-government protest.

A small group opposing the protest and carrying Ukrainian flags gathered at the statue of St. Wenceslas, occasionally engaging in verbal conflicts with the protesters.

The demonstration, though legitimate in expressing dissatisfaction, drew criticism for what some saw as an attempt to incite hatred and fear. Several such protests happened in the past 12 months, including in October 2022 when tens of thousands of demonstrators turned out to protest against Fiala’s cabinet.

The protest in Prague reflected widespread discontent with the Czech government's policies on various fronts, from economic issues to foreign relations.