Major rally planned as Czech MPs mull 'foreign agent' law

"The erosion of democracy in the Czech Republic is advancing faster than we thought. We will not stand by silently while oligarchs and extremists threaten the future of our country. The organization has issued a rallying call for Czechs to defend their institutions including NGOs from what it says is the spread of illiberalism and authoritarianism in Central Europe."

"The country's largest NGO People in Need says the draft proposals would stigmatize legitimate international cooperation, chill civil society activity and give the state sweeping supervisory powers without sufficient judicial safeguards. We reject the principle of such a law, Simon Panek, People in Need's executive director and co-founder, told DW."

Prague is preparing for a significant Saturday demonstration organized by A Million Moments for Democracy, potentially one of the largest in recent years. The rally addresses concerns about democratic erosion, public media integrity, state institutions, and foreign policy. Central to the protest is opposition to draft 'foreign agent' legislation that campaigners argue mirrors Russian-style restrictions on civil society. The demonstration will be held on Letna Plain, historically significant as the site of the 1989 anti-Communist protests that drew 800,000 people. Major NGOs like People in Need warn the proposed law would stigmatize international cooperation, suppress civil society activity, and grant excessive state supervisory powers without adequate judicial oversight.

Read at www.dw.com