Czech MPs tighten conflict of interest legislation

The Czech lower house on Friday approved an amendment adding stricter conditions to the conflict of interest law. Under the legislation, politicians will not be able to transfer media ownership to a close person or to a trust fund, and there will be higher fines for violating their obligations.

The legislation, directed at ANO’s billionaire boss Andrej Babiš, who owns two major dailies and a popular radio station, was approved in 2016, and is widely referred to as “Lex Babiš”. The legislation will now go to the Senate for consideration.