President Pavel presses Babiš on conflict of interest and Storks’ Nest case

President Petr Pavel met with opposition leader Andrej Babiš (ANO) on Monday, to inquire how he would comply with conflict-of-interest laws, relating to his Agrofert business empire,  if tasked with forming the next government. Pavel also raised the Storks’ Nest fraud case. In June, the Prague High Court overturned Babiš’s earlier acquittal, ruling that elements of criminal conduct were present. The case now returns to the lower court, which must follow the appeals court’s legal view. This means that Parliament might have to vote on lifting Babiš’s immunity.

Babiš told Czech News Agency that he had assured the president that if he were tasked with forming the next government he would fully comply with Czech and EU law. He added that he had given the president documents which indicate that the case against him is politically driven.