Final EU audit: Czech PM has conflict of interest

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš definitely has a conflict of interest, according to a final EU audit, the results of which were released on Friday evening.

According to the conclusions of the European Commission the prime minister continues to influence the multi-billion crown corporation Agrofert he established, even after he was forced to place it into trust funds to meet a strict new conflict of interest law.

The outcome of the audit means that the Czech Republic will have to return millions of crowns in EU subsidies granted to Agrofert. Its conclusions are final and can only be challenged in court.

Mr. Babiš has denied having a conflict of interest, insisting that he does not control or manage Agrofert holdings. He claims that the affair around his potential conflict of interest was triggered by political opponents in the Czech Republic in an attempt to discredit him and drive him out of politics.