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Anti-Government Protest in Prague Demanding Resignation of Prime Minister, November 16, 2019

 

Anti-government protest in Prague, November 16, 2019

 

Prague: Anti-government protests mark Velvet Revolution anniversary

DW, November 16, 2019

Over 200,000 people took to the streets of Prague on Saturday as part of anti-government protests. Sunday marks 30 years since the 1989 Velvet Revolution that led to the fall of communism in what was then Czechoslovakia.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in the Czech capital on Saturday as part of major anti-government protests.

This comes one day ahead of the 30th anniversary of the beginning of the Velvet Revolution, a series of nonviolent mass protests that led to the overthrow of communism in what was then Czechoslovakia. The bloodless revolution was the basis for the founding of the Czech Republic as a democratic state.

Police estimated that 200,000 people were on the streets, while organizers put the number at up to 300,000.

Saturday's protest was organized by activist group Million Moments for Democracy, which has staged numerous protests against the government of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, urging him to resign.

'Fight for democracy'

DW's Jonathan Crane talked to some of the protesters, with one woman describing the Czech government as a "mess." "We need to do something for our country to make it better," said Nicole Harapesova.

Another protester, Petr Hnidek, said that the anniversary was significant because it symbolized "the fight for democracy and against totalitarianism."

"We are protesting against the abuse of power by those who won the election," said Benjamin Roll, one of the protest's organizers.

"Should they be allowed to do anything? The struggle for freedom and democracy never ends," he added, referencing the Velvet Revolution.

Who is Andrej Babis?

Babis, a billionaire businessman and leader of the center-right populist ANO party, has been accused of intimidating his rivals and of corruption. He is the first prime minister since the formation of the Czech Republic whose government relies on support from the Communist Party.

Corruption charges were later dropped against Babis, after his government survived a no-confidence vote.

Demonstrators are giving Babis a deadline of December 31 to get rid of his business and media empire or resign.

The protests kicked off on the Letna hill overlooking central Prague. Organizers hope to repeat the success of a similar protest in June that was the largest of its kind since 1989.

https://www.dw.com/en/prague-anti-government-protests-mark-velvet-revolution-anniversary/a-51277820

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Czech anti-government protesters mark anniversary of revolution

BBC, 16 November 2019

At least 200,000 people have protested against the Czech government in the capital, Prague.

Demonstrators are calling for Prime Minister Andrej Babis to resign over allegations of fraud.

It is alleged Mr Babis used European Union subsidies for his private business - something he denies.

The protest was held on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which ended communist rule in what was then Czechoslovakia.

Saturday's demonstration was held in Letna Park, which was also the site of the biggest rallies of November 1989.

Many people have been chanting "we are here" - an echo of the revolution's protest slogan three decades ago.

And some of the speakers were former dissidents who also addressed the 1989 rallies.

Why are they protesting?

As well as being prime minister, Mr Babis is the billionaire founder of a business called Agrofert - a Czech conglomerate holding company based in Prague.

The group that organised the protest, called the Million Moments for Democracy Association, is demanding that Mr Babis either resign by the end of the year or sever ties with the business.

Speakers at the rally also called for Czech President Milos Zeman to stand down.

Image copyrightAFP Image caption The crowds gathered at Letna Park - one of the sites of the Velvet Revolution rallies in 1989 Image copyrightReuters Image caption Demonstrators are calling for Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis to resign

"Some of our politicians do not understand why we are here, others do not want to spoil the holidays," Benjamin Roll, vice chairman of Million Moments, told Reuters news agency.

"The struggle for freedom and democracy never ends."

While Czech police estimated that about 200,000 people attended the protest, organisers put this figure closer to 300,000.

Demonstrators have gathered here in Prague at a symbolic time in a symbolic place.

They're angry at their prime minister. Prosecutors have recently dropped a criminal case against him but his opponents still want him to resign.

Thirty years ago, of course, the student-led protests were against a brutal totalitarian system. Thirty years on, people are demonstrating against a democratically elected government.

But they say it's not enough to go to the polls every four years. They see themselves as part of the checks and balances that prevent that democracy from being eroded.

In an interview with local media before the rally, President Zeman denounced the protests as undemocratic.

"I would like to note that Andrej Babis had 1.5 million votes in an election and I had 2.85 million votes," he said. "Against that the participation at Letna is a small fraction."

Mr Babis, whose ANO party continues to lead the polls, also said he "can't understand" the point of the protests against him.

But Million Moments' leaders have now issued Mr Babis with an ultimatum - either he fulfils their demands or they will continue to stage protests.

Mikulas Minar, one of the group's organisers, told Czech broadcaster CT24 that any future protests would be "more creative".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50446661

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