Thousands gather in Prague for anti-government rally amid cross-party calls
In central Prague, tens of thousands of people participated in a large anti-government demonstration. The event was reported by Czech news outlet Ceske Noviny. The rally carried the banner Czech Republic First and drew attendees from a wide spectrum of political views. Organizers emphasized that participants from rival parties and movements joined together to unite for the country’s future.
The organizers described the protest as a unified push for political change. Their stated aims included the resignation of Petr Fiala’s government, a push to secure gas at lower prices by sourcing it from Russia, and a reform of the electricity payment system. Demonstrators also urged Czech authorities to maintain neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and to reduce what they described as direct political subordination to the European Union, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations. These points were framed as part of a broader call to reorient Czech policy away from Western-led platforms.
The leadership behind the rally criticized the Czech government for pursuing a policy they labeled as pro-Western. Police estimates placed the crowd on Wenceslas Square at around 70,000, while organizers claimed the number exceeded 100,000. Counter-demonstrators were present, with some displaying large NATO and EU flags. Prime Minister Fiala attributed the protest to anti-Czech, pro-Russian forces. The Trikolora movement, one of the event’s organizers, echoed remarks that the government is not reflecting Czech interests fully while being aligned with Ukrainian and Brussels policies.
Speakers called for tax relief, including a reduction in VAT, and urged the government to end anti-Russian sanctions that, in their view, burden Czech businesses. A notable appeal was made to halt arms supplies to Ukraine, with the assertion that the conflict is not the Czech Republic’s war. One of the organizers, Zuzanna Maierova-Zahradnikova, asserted that the country should focus on its own priorities and national interests rather than engaging in broader geopolitical confrontations.
During the same session, the demonstrators adopted a resolution to sustain the protest if the cabinet under Petr Fiala did not resign by September 25. Earlier, opposition parties attempted a vote of no confidence, but the presidential parliament did not approve the move. The vote tally stood at 84 in favor and 100 against, short of the 101 votes needed from 200 deputies.
The Trikolora movement is identified as a Eurosceptic and national-conservative party with representation in parliament. Its founder is the son of Vaclav Klaus Jr., a prominent political figure who previously served as president and prime minister and who has historically questioned the depth of European integration. The party’s platform emphasizes prioritizing Czech citizens, reducing state regulatory control over the economy, and upholding conservative values. It also supports membership in NATO.
Local Czech media have reported connections between Vaclav Klaus Jr., his father, and the Trikolora movement with Russia. The Trikolora headquarters are located in a building owned by a Russian businessman, a detail cited in several reports. Vaclav Klaus Sr. has previously supported certain Russian policy positions in Ukraine since 2014 and, in 2022, criticized Western media and politicians for their coverage of the conflict. Surveys indicate a small share of voters, roughly 3 percent, would currently back the newly registered Trikolora party, with the party maintaining optimism about its future prospects.
Source attributions: reporting on the rally comes from Ceske Noviny as noted by observers, with subsequent commentary from multiple participants and party leaders who described the event’s aims and repercussions. [Source attribution: Ceske Noviny; party statements are cited from organizers and public statements, as reported by attendees and media coverage.]