Government and opposition clash over conflict-of-interest bill

Government and opposition politicians clashed over a proposed amendment to Czechia’s conflict-of-interest law during a Sunday debate on Czech Television. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová (ANO) rejected claims that the bill was drafted to benefit Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, arguing it merely aligns Czech legislation with rules elsewhere in the European Union and noting that Babiš transferred Agrofert, the conglomerate he founded, into trust funds. Opposition leaders countered that the amendment could shield Agrofert from repaying billions of crowns in subsidies that courts ruled were awarded unlawfully between 2017 and 2021. They also vowed to challenge the law before the Constitutional Court if it is passed.