Amid mounting economic woes, thousands of flag-waving Czechs filled Prague’s iconic Wenceslas Square on Sunday afternoon to demand the resignation of the country’s five-party coalition government, with many urging peace in Ukraine and for the Czech Republic to leave NATO.
Organized by the new non-parliamentary party Law, Respect, Expertise (PRO), the rally, the second of its kind to take place in just over a month, saw thousands of people—under the banner “against poverty”—gather in the capital city’s main square, before walking to the Straka Academy, the seat of the government, the online newspaper iDNES reports.
Protesters, most of whom accuse Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s center-Right government of being overly concerned with Ukraine while neglecting the needs of Czechs, were seen carrying banners with the words “Away with NATO,” “No war,” and “Lying government and media.”
An anti-government rally under the slogan "Czech Republic Against Poverty" is taking place in Prague.
— Spriter (@Spriter99880) April 16, 2023
people are trying to draw the attention of the authorities to the fact that ordinary citizens have been hit by an increase in the price of energy, food, fuel and services. pic.twitter.com/aZ3YBJLWH6