As of: 09/12/2022 4:53 p.m
In the Czech Republic, ex-prime minister Babis is on trial today: He is said to have obtained EU subsidies for his private company by fraud. Babis defends himself – and is already thinking of a comeback as a presidential candidate.
The largest room in the Prague District Court is already ready. Admission tickets are issued on a daily basis and the rank can also be opened if necessary. There is great interest in the trial of former populist Prime Minister Andrej Babis. The multi-billionaire and head of the largest opposition party ANO wants to testify to prove his innocence: “The subsidies were legal and they were returned later. So this is a purely political campaign” – that’s how the accused sees it.
He is a victim in the first political trial since the Velvet Revolution more than 30 years ago. A cartel of mainstream parties staged this, says Babis.
The prosecution in the “Stork’s Nest” case, on the other hand, speaks of fraud. The wellness resort in the Prague commuter belt originally belonged to the huge Babis Agrofert group. But it was spun off for a time to receive €2 million in EU funding for small and medium-sized businesses.
reassessments after years
This project has been under investigation for more than six years. The investigations were stopped during Babis’ reign, and there was talk of political pressure. But the Czech Attorney General Pavel Zeman had the authorities rework it: “The decision of the Prague public prosecutor’s office contains flaws in the assessment of the facts and the legal situation,” says Zeman. “The available evidence has been misjudged and insufficient account has been taken of European legislation.”
New investigations were no longer carried out against all of the accused – above all family members of Babis – but only against the 68-year-old today and against a former employee. The two face up to 10 years in prison, but the prosecution has suggested probation and fines.
Just one scandal of many
The “Stork’s Nest” case is just one of many scandals surrounding Babis: as finance minister, he had to resign due to allegations of tax fraud, as head of government and ex-entrepreneur he had a conflict of interest when it came to the allocation of subsidies to the Czech Republic – that has a EU report confirmed this spring. And there have always been protests against him, the biggest since the Velvet Revolution.
“We don’t want to accept that our prime minister is a prosecuted person, a former communist secret agent, an oligarch who collected dozens of subsidies from Czech taxpayers,” says activist Mikulas Minar.
On a campaign tour across the country
A year ago, Babis was voted out of office, five different parties had joined forces against him and are now running official business. However, the company and party founder has not retired from politics. The Slovak native has long been said to have ambitions for the presidency.
Babis has been touring the country in a mobile home for months, and according to polls he would win the first round of voting in January. But he is delaying his candidacy. He wants to explain himself by the end of October, it is now said. The municipal and Senate elections in the coming week should be an initial decision-making aid for him; the second then the “Stork’s Nest” trial, dates are scheduled until October 21st.