PM Babiš: NGOs seeking to influence politics should be subject to registration

Planned mandatory registration of non-governmental organizations with foreign ties would apply to those attempting to influence politics, according to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO). It would not apply to organizations such as beekeepers’ associations, Babiš stated. He again rejected claims by critics that the planned coalition proposal was inspired by Russia’s law on foreign agents.

“This is not any law about foreign agents, but about making funding transparent,” Babiš said. According to him, the aim of the planned amendment is for NGOs with a political agenda to regularly report their financing — that is, who funds them and for what purposes the money is used. According to the prime minister, it is not acceptable for NGOs funded from abroad to engage in political struggle in the Czech Republic.

A working version from the end of February proposes fines of up to 15 million crowns or up to ten percent of income or turnover for failure to comply with the obligation. Babiš said these sanctions are not final.