Editors of leading Czech outlets called on billionaire Prime Minister Andre Babiš, leader of the ruling populist Ano party, to respect “free, independent and critical journalism”.

The joint statement, shared by Czech Television (CT) and other media, came in response to the latest barrage of attacks Babiš voiced against online news outlets Seznam Zprávy (SZ) and Novinky.cz and daily Právo on his Facebook social media profile where he accused SZ and Novinky of “turning into activist media” and “resigning on objectivity”.

“We reject attacks by the prime minister directed at Seznam Zprávy, Novinky, Právo and other media,” the statement signed by over twenty lead editors of reputable outlets and public media reads.

“Free and independent media are a necessary part of every democratic society,” the editors added, noting that these “secure also a public control of state power and every democratic politician should be able to bear such control”.

Previously, Babiš claimed independent media were carrying out "an open campaign against the government”. The Czech PM has a storied record of rocky relations with media, including a court-ordered ruling to apologise on his social media for his unsubstantiated attacks and spreading of hoaxes about investigative journalist Pavla Holcová. 

Babiš added that “the selection of themes, tone and headlines are mostly on purpose” in the media he slammed in the latest development. 

Editors of leading Czech outlets countered by stating that “attacks against journalists and casting doubt on independent media do not belong to free society”.

Concerns about pressure on independent media have increased after Babiš quickly joined forces with the far right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) and anti-green Motorists for Themselves to form the most right wing cabinet in the country’s history after Ano’s victory in the October general election.

After just a month in office, Motorists leader and Minister of Foreign Affairs Petr Macinka held a press briefing in January in which journalists from liberal daily Deník N were not allowed to take part, while Babiš and SPD leader Tomio Okamura stated in January they want to scrap the existing public media funding though concession fees, prompting concern from the International Press Institute and other media watchdogs.

Just last week, the ruling coalition pushed ahead with changes to public media by tabling a proposal to exempt seniors, youths under 26 years and handicapped persons from concession fees through which CT and Czech Radio (CRo) are financed.

The partial scrapping of the concession fees proposed by the ruling coalition in the latest development would amount to one third of CT’s and CRo’s income with CT losing more than CZK2bn (€81mn) and CRo losing CZK800mn, Czech Press Agency reported, referring to information from the public broadcasters, which warned this would impact the financial stability of the media.

Vojtěch Boháč, editor-in-chief of foreign affairs focused Voxpot outlet who also signed the joint statement, called on his readers to defend media freedom in the country, warning that “attacks on the media from the side of the government are getting more intensive”.

“It needs to be said clearly that despite imperfections media fulfill a very key role in controlling the power,” Boháč wrote on his Facebook page, adding that “criticise us, require better work [of us], but when the government attacks media, defend those [media], because without those it would be much worse”.