The coalition government of ANO, SPD and Motorists has clearly committed itself in its program statement to the complete abolition of concessionaire fees (fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio) as part of its program. This move should apply from January 1, 2027, i.e. from the beginning of next year, if the parliamentarians approve the relevant laws.
A specific legislative and financial solution has not yet been clearly defined; there are discussions about this in the coalition debate.
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Despite the government’s intention to cancel the fees, part of the political scene and experts are skeptical. The Senate called on the government to abandon the plan, saying that the current system of concession fees ensures stable and independent financing of public media.
ANO MP Patrik Nacher points out, however, that television fees also have another negative dimension. They literally talk about how they can act as a “stranger trap”.
He cites a specific case when a citizen from Prague approached him with a disturbing story of a woman from Ukraine who fled to the Czech Republic before the war and now works here properly as a cleaner. Due to non-payment of fees to Czech Television – including for the period when, according to him, she did not even physically reside in the Czech Republic – the Ukrainian woman, who receives the minimum wage, is now facing execution.
- AGAIN 2011
- 1st vice-chairman of the PS PČR
He substantiates his claim with a specific enforcement document. It is evident from it that the original recovered amount of CZK 2,987.70 was increased by the costs of the beneficiary and the costs of execution, so that the total amount to be paid exceeded CZK 10,000.
In his statement, Nacher emphasizes the human dimension of the whole thing. “I consider it humanly very sad that a woman who fled to the Czech Republic before the war, soon began to work here legally, including legal contributions, she had registered permanent residence at the municipal district office and did not even own a television set. She is in a very difficult life situation with regard to the execution against her and the amount of her regular income.”
He admits that the situation may be formally in accordance with Czech law, but at the same time he calls it illogical and absurd. “The situation in which (not only) a low-income, tax-paying foreigner who does not own a television set is subject to foreclosure due to non-payment of television fees may be in accordance with current Czech law – however, I believe that from the point of view of a logically thinking person, this is a completely absurd situation.”
At the same time, he argues for the wider European context and claims that the system of concession fees is a relic. He reminds that a number of EU countries have abolished it or replaced it with another funding model in recent years. Replacing public media with a more efficient way of financing would not only bring savings in administration and fee collection, but would also help prevent similar socially sensitive cases as he describes.
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