Largest Anti-Government Protest Draws 200,000 in Prague

Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Prague's Letná Park on March 21 for the largest anti-government protest in the Czech Republic since 2019, voicing opposition to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš's policies and their potential impact on democracy and international alliances.

The peaceful rally, organized by the Million Moments for Democracy group, drew crowds estimated by organizers at between 200,000 and 250,000 people. Participants waved Czech and European Union flags while carrying banners that read "Let's Defend Democracy." Letná Park, overlooking the city's historic center, holds symbolic significance as the site of massive gatherings during the 1989 Velvet Revolution that ended communist rule.

Protesters expressed concerns over the new government's direction under Babiš, who returned to power after his ANO party won the October parliamentary elections and formed a coalition with smaller right-wing and far-right groups, including the Freedom and Direct Democracy party. The coalition took office in January, marking Babiš's second stint as prime minister after serving from 2017 to 2021. Critics fear the administration's alliances with leaders like Hungary's Viktor...