Brussels: Havlíček defends Babiš over conflict of interest

Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Karel Havlíček (ANO) has defended Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) in Brussels, saying the steps he took to address a potential conflict of interest “go well beyond the standard”. Havlíček was responding to a report by news website Seznam Zprávy that the European Commission had sent a letter to the Czech Republic requesting clarification on how the country was preventing a conflict of interest involving the prime minister.

Babiš insists he resolved the issue last week by transferring all Agrofert shares into a private trust fund, RSVP Trust. The Commission’s letter was sent before this step was taken and requests a reply within one month. Havlíček said he was unsure whether the issue would be discussed by the cabinet, but expects the Ministry for Regional Development, to which the letter was addressed, to prepare a response. If the EU considers the explanation insufficient, it could launch formal audit proceedings, as it did during Babiš’s previous term in office.