'You are warmongers': Czech protestors call for overthrow of Fiala's government

Prague, Sept 28 (ČTK) - Tens of thousands of people attended an anti-government rally demanding the resignation of the coalition cabinet and the reversal of the political course in the Czech Republic at Prague's Wenceslas Square Wednesday.

The protest was organized by the group "Czech Republic First!" In early September, a similar demonstration was attended by about 70,000 people.

Czech police said "some tens of thousands" of people attended the protest. Organizers said they plan to petition President Miloš Zeman on Oct. 10 to demand the dismissal of Prime Minister Petr Fiala's coalition government and call for an early election.

Another protest is planned for Oct. 28, the anniversary of the establishment of the First Republic. Wednesday's protests took place on the day of Czech statehood.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan said that in uncertain times, fear is understandable, but denounced lies and asked people not to be misled by manipulators who offer unrealistic solutions.

"We want to make a complete reversal of the political course in our country. We want to achieve this change in a non-violent way," organizer Jiří Havel said.

Another organizer, Ladislav Vrabel, said the government should tender its resignation, new elections should be called, and control of the country should go to "patriotic experts."

The first speech was delivered by Miroslav Ševčík, the dean of the Prague University of Economics and Business Prague. The crowd was also addressed by a former head of the Agrarian Chamber, Zdeněk Jandejsek.

Speeches were also delivered by a deputy for the anti-EU Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), Jaroslav Foldyna, Communist leader Kateřina Konečná, and Tricolour leader Zuzana Majerova.

The demonstration began with the Czech national anthem, sung by Tomaš Ortel, frontman of the band Ortel.

Protesters waved national flags and banners with such anti-government slogans as "End to government sick in spirit, brains, and character."

At the scene of the protest, the Communist party gathered signatures in support of their presidential candidate Josef Skála.

Despite the political presence, the organizers of the protest call themselves independents, and their protest a "Non-Violent Revolution."

They demanded the signing of gas treaties directly with Russia, leaving NATO, the EU, the United Nations, and the WHO, voluntary vaccination, and an end to the "planned thinning of the nation" by Ukrainian refugees.

They also demanded the "liberation" of domestic industry from "dependence" on foreign corporations.

Protesters chanted "resignation," "shame on you" and "thieves."

The speakers complained about oppression, censorship, and totalitarianism. They rejected the war and deliveries of arms to Ukraine.

The protesters were supported by an MEP for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Christine Anderson, and German AfD deputy Petr Bystron.

He said they were fighting "for family, god, homeland, and our freedom." Bystron and other speakers expressed support for former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The protest was broadcast live via jumbotrons from Wenceslas Square and in the center of Brno, Plzen, Liberec, eské Budějovice, Uherské Hradiště, Karviná, Havířov, and Nejdek.

In Brno, a similar anti-government demonstration was attended by 1,500 people. The participants carried flags of the Czech Republic and Moravia, with one banner reading, "Fiala, that's enough, you are war-mongers."