Prague [Czech Republic], March 22: Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Prague on Saturday against Prime Minister Andrej Babis's right-wing populist government.
The "A Million Moments for Democracy" alliance called for the rally, with its founder, Mikulas Minar, accusing the Cabinet of displaying authoritarian tendencies and seeking to turn the country towards the East. "The chill is coming from the Kremlin and running down our spines, but we are still warm because there are so many of us," said 33-year-old Minar.
He argued that the government's victory in the recent parliamentary election did not give it the right to abuse its power.
Further points of criticism included the recent cuts to defence spending and planned changes to the funding of public service media.
The organizers said up to 250,000 participants gathered in a large park on the Letna plateau. The demonstrators held aloft Czech and Ukrainian flags as well as the European flag.
A picture depicted US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin appearing to kiss.
Police and emergency services were on site with a large contingent of personnel.
Since mid-December, Babis has been governing in a coalition with two parties on the far right of the political spectrum: the motorists' party and the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD).
Just a few weeks ago, the Czech parliament refused to lift his parliamentary immunity over his trial for alleged subsidy fraud.
The 71-year-old's ANO party works in the European Parliament within the "Patriots for Europe" group, alongside Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Fidesz party.
Source: Qatar Tribune