Clear the way for Babis as head of government in the Czech Republic

New right-wing coalition

Clear the way for Babis as head of government in the Czech Republic

Babis hands over his billion-dollar company to a trust. Critics doubt whether he really cuts all connections. But President Pavel is now ready to swear in the right-wing populist.

Two months after the parliamentary elections, the way is clear for a new government in the Czech Republic. After a long period of hesitation, President Petr Pavel has agreed to appoint the right-wing populist election winner and billionaire Andrej Babis as Prime Minister. This will happen next Tuesday, the head of state announced at X.

Babis had previously fulfilled one of the president’s conditions. He should publicly explain how he wants to resolve his conflict of interest as a politician and owner of a group with more than 250 companies that benefits significantly from EU subsidies. Babis now announced in a video on social media that he would hand over his Agrofert holding to a trust that would be looked after by an independent administrator.

“I have decided to irrevocably give up the Agrofert company and no longer have anything in common with it,” said the 71-year-old. Only after his death will the assets pass to his children. Critics expressed skepticism. “Hopefully at least this time he will keep what he promises to the public,” said acting Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Others spoke of a pseudo-solution.

Babis has already signed a coalition agreement with two right-wing parties. Together with the Motorists party and the NATO and EU-critical Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) of the new parliamentary speaker Tomio Okamura, the ANO has 108 of the 200 seats in the House of Representatives, the more important of the two chambers.