PRAGUE – Czech President Petr Pavel used Monday’s Velvet Revolution anniversary to deliver a sharp warning over the unresolved conflict of interest of Prime minister-hopeful Andrej Babiš, winner of who is trying to form a new government.
Pavel signalled he may refuse to appoint the populist ANO party leader, who won October’s Czech parliamentary election, as prime minister unless the matter is resolved.
As Euractiv previously reported, Babiš faces a conflict-of-interest accusation due to his ownership of the agro-chemical conglomerate Agrofert, which receives substantial subsidies from both the Czech and EU budgets.
Czech law bars government members from benefiting from state subsidies through companies they control.
Pavel stressed that appointing Babiš while he still owns Agrofert would “create an unlawful situation”.
“I don’t think that’s what the public expects of me, nor does the constitution expect that of me,” he told Czech Radio on Monday. Transparency, he added, is a prerequisite – and if Babiš cannot offer a satisfactory solution, “the winning party should offer another candidate”.
ANO, however, insists its nominee will not change.
Deputy chair Karel Havlíček reiterated that Babiš remains the movement’s sole candidate for prime minister. Babiš said he will present his solution to the conflict of interest only shortly before any appointment – and publicly, if Pavel demands it.
The standoff adds pressure to post-election talks, as Babiš negotiates a potential controversial coalition with the far-right SPD and the populist Motorists party. He has previously declared he aims to form a government by mid-December.
(cs)
