ANO party files complaint against law barring top officials from owning media outlets

The opposition ANO party has filed a motion with the Constitutional Court to repeal the so-called Lex Babiš law barring top officials from owning media outlets. The legislation, approved earlier this year, tightened the existing conflict of interest law under which politicians were able to transfer media assets to a close person or a trust fund during their time in office. The law was approved in reaction to former prime minister Andrej Babiš owning a multi-billion crown empire, including media outlets, and placing them in trust funds during his tenure.

All 70 MPs of the ANO party signed the motion, with the exception of Babiš himself. The party has based its complaint on the grounds that the ruling parties circumvented the Rules of Procedure of the Chamber of Deputies and restricted debate on the bill.