Czech PM’s Media Plans Fall Victim to Russia’s Invasion and Internal Enemies

The reshuffle has left some insiders and analysts suspecting that the prime minister's much-trumpeted media crusade - aimed at strengthening the independence of the public broadcaster, fighting disinformation and boosting strategic communications - was throttled by a cabal of powerful enemies.

(L-R, bottom row) Leader of KDU-CSL Marian Jurecka, leader of TOP 09 Marketa Pekarova Adamova, leader of Civic Party (ODS) and Together's (SPOLU) coalition candidate for PM Petr Fiala, leader of STAN Vit Rakusan and Ieader of Pirates Ivan Bartos sign a coalition agreement, in Prague, Czech Republic, 08 November 2021. EPA-EFE/MARTIN DIVISEK Born in crisis

Petr Fiala's government was born in crisis and has been fighting fires ever since.

Cobbles together amid the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the five-party coalition cabinet soon had a vicious war on the doorstep to contend with, followed by an energy crunch and inflation surge.

Looming above the long list of obstacles is the Russian invasion which, Klima argues in an interview with BIRN, murdered the media agenda almost overnight. "The war in Ukraine completely changed the government's priorities," he tells BIRN. "It became impossible to speak with anyone. I was totally isolated. There was no room for media matters."

When Prague then took over the six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in July 2022, the distractions only multiplied. However, analysts assert that any resulting capacity restraints could have been overcome if the political will was there.

"I'm not sure the war in Ukraine and stretched government capacity is the main reason for the failing media agenda," says Vaclav Stetka, Reader in Comparative Political Communication at Loughborough University. "I...