News site: Babiš must prove no active involvment in trust fund

Under new European rules the billionaire Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš of ANO, will have to prove that he does not control the trust fund in which he last year placed the company Agrofert, the news website Neovlivni.cz reported.

Earlier this month the European Parliament rubberstamped new conflict of interest regulations that bars senior politicians from receiving subsidies.

If Mr. Babiš failed to show distance between him and the trust fund either he would have to stand down or Agrofert would miss out on grants, Neovlivni.cz said.

A spokesman said the new rules should not affect Agrofert as the prime minister is neither the owner of the trust fund nor the person who controls it.

Author: Ian Willoughby