A debate on the programme 360° on CNN Prima NEWS about what the end of television and radio licence fees would bring escalated in October 2026 into a clash between MP Jindřich Rajchl (PRO, elected for SPD) and the first deputy chairman of KDU-ČSL, Benjamin Činčila. The governing coalition of ANO, SPD and the Motorists wants to abolish the fees.[1]

Course of the debate

Rajchl defended voluntary payment of the fees and compared them to a motorway toll sticker; in his view, no one should be forced to pay for a service they do not use. Činčila objected that, by the same logic, people could similarly choose which services and politicians their taxes should support. He pointed out that public-service television serves the whole of society and that, besides hockey, it needs to broadcast other sports as well.[1]

Rajchl called external contributors to Czech Television "parasites" and claimed that some of them have overpriced contracts and that the institution does not manage its finances transparently enough. Činčila accused him of behaving like a "boor". The moderator, Pavlína Wolfová, asked the MP not to use that word for people working as freelancers.[1]

Reactions after the programme

On social media, Činčila described Rajchl's manner of communication as unacceptable and said that the Christian Democrats want politics built on hope and the search for solutions. On Facebook, Rajchl again voiced his opposition to the fees, calling them an anachronism, and mocked his opponents.[1]

Sources

  1. FORUM 24 — 30 October 2026