Deputy PM Bělobradek: Finance minister should consider resigning over Storks Nest scandal

Deputy Prime Minister Pavel Bělobradek, who heads the Christian Democrats in the ruling coalition, has said Finance Minister and ANO leader Andrej Babiš should consider resigning from office. Speaking in Orlando at the close of a five-day visit to the US, Mr. Bělobradek said the finance minister’s address to the lower house on Wednesday had only confirmed the suspicion that he had transferred the ownership of his Stork Nest farm to family members with the aim of gaining EU subsidies for small entrepreneurs. "I consider it a very serious situation because it lowers the credit of both Mr. Babiš and the whole government," the Christian Democrat leader said. He noted that while the suspicion was being investigated by the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF and the police, it was also an ethical problem that Mr. Babiš, ANO and not least voters should address. The prime minister has said he will await the outcome of the EU investigation before making a decision on Mr. Babiš’ possible dismissal.