Trade unions of the drama company of the National Theatre declared a strike alert on the evening of 27 October 2026. They did so after a performance of Hamlet on the stage of the historic building, according to the theatre's spokesperson. In a statement they said they were joining the students' appeal and that the steps of the government and the Ministry of Culture, in their view, threaten freedom of speech and of the press, as well as culture.[1][2]
Demands
The drama company demands the resignation of Minister of Culture Oto Klempíř (for Motoristé sobě) and the withdrawal of the bill under discussion that would transfer the financing of public service media to the state. It also wants an end to interference in the Ministry of Culture's grant and subsidy policy, to efforts at a fundamental transformation of the Státní fond audiovize, and to the selection procedure for a new director of the National Gallery Prague, and it wants the new draft of the State Cultural Policy withdrawn.[1]
Background
The statement refers to the decision of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic in the night to Saturday 24 October 2026 to send the public service media amendment to second reading. Employees of Czech Television and Czech Radio have declared a full-day strike for Tuesday 3 November, and several universities are on strike alert. According to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO), Czech Television and Czech Radio will gain greater security and independence from the new financing; the opposition speaks of nationalisation of the media.[1]
According to the Czech News Agency, the Herecká asociace expressed support for the drama company's demands. The Ministry of Culture has long faced criticism from the cultural community, for example from the Asociace nezávislých divadel over the State Cultural Policy and new subsidy conditions; the minister has repeatedly rejected these claims.[1]
Chronology
- — The trade unions of the National Theatre drama company declared a strike alert on 27 October 2026 over the planned change in the funding of public service media. ČTK / České noviny ČT24