With Andrej Babiš back in power, Czechia’s civil society is warning the country may follow Hungary and Slovakia down an authoritarian path.

In this Talk Eastern Europe Deep Dive, Nina Pániková speaks with Mikuláš Minář, founder and chairman of Million Moments for Democracy, at the UNLOCK Summit in Prague.

Minář recounts how a single moment before the 2017 Czech election transformed him from a philosophy student into one of the country’s most prominent civic activists. He explains how Million Moments for Democracy mobilized hundreds of thousands of people, helped strengthen democratic participation ahead of the 2021 election and became an inspiration for civic movements elsewhere in Europe.

The conversation examines Andrej Babiš’s return to power, threats to Czech public media and civil society, the role of opposition parties and the danger of the Czech Republic following the political trajectory of Viktor Orbán’s Hungary or Robert Fico’s Slovakia.

Minář also explains why protest alone is no longer enough, why civic movements must remain independent while still engaging with politicians, and how small everyday actions can generate the collective power needed to protect democracy.

Can grassroots activism once again change the direction of Czech politics?

Talk Eastern Europe is the podcast from New Eastern Europe magazine - your trusted source for in-depth analysis and expert perspectives on Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and the post-Soviet space.

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