Prague Demonstration: ‘Don’t Let Our Future Be Stolen’

A large demonstration organized by the civic group Milion Chvilek pro demokracii (Million Moments for Democracy) took place Saturday on Letná Plain in Prague. The protest, centered around the slogan “Let’s Not Let Them Steal Our Future,” voiced concerns over the erosion of democratic institutions and government actions. Organizers estimated a significant turnout, with Mikuláš Minář, the group’s chairman, stating the demonstration was intended to highlight what he described as the dangers of a weakening democracy, the increasing influence of oligarchs, and the policies of the government led by Andrej Babiš. This event echoes a similar protest held in the summer of 2019 against Babiš’s then-government, which organizers at the time said drew roughly a quarter of a million participants. The demonstration comes as the group expresses opposition to the current governing coalition comprised of ANO, SPD, and Motorists. According to Minář, the action is a response to the current government’s actions. He warned that democracy doesn’t disappear overnight, but rather deteriorates gradually through incremental changes, control of the media, and the undermining of institutions. Milion Chvilek initially planned to hold the demonstration only after collecting one million signatures, but ultimately decided to proceed based on the strong response to regional gatherings held in February. Those regional events, which took place in over 400 locations across the country, surpassed the 313 locations involved in the 2019 protests. The move underscores the group’s belief that widespread public concern warranted immediate action. The protest also follows recent demonstrations supporting President Petr Pavel, sparked by conflicts between the president and members of the Motorists party, including Foreign Minister Petr Macinka. The group initially rallied around the slogan “We Stand With the President,” garnering 780,000 signatures.