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Andrej Babiš, the self-proclaimed billionaire who secured victory in the recent Czech election, has declined to sell his vast business interests, while asserting he will resolve a conflict of interest that could prevent him from assuming the role of head of government.

Stance on Business Holdings

Babiš, whose political movement came first in the autumn vote but did not secure a majority in parliament, declared in a social media post that he would not divest his Agrofert group, which operates in agriculture, food production, and chemical industries.

“I have consistently said I will not sell Agrofert. I have repeatedly said I will resolve the ethical issue in accordance with national and European laws,” the billionaire commented. “This is not like selling a roll in a bakery.”

President's Demand

The Czech president, Petr Pavel, announced that the 71-year-old political figure must clarify openly how he will remove conflicts of interest arising from his corporate dealings before assuming the role of premier.

The Czech constitution “clearly mandates the president to take into account the potential occurrence of a conflict of interest and the ways to address it” when selecting government ministers, Pavel's office noted.

The president “wants it to be clear in what precise manner Andrej Babiš will meet his statutory duties”, the statement added, stating that Pavel was ready to appoint Babiš as prime minister “immediately” once the issue was settled.

Business Operations and Legal Issues

Babiš's numerous firms, primarily under the Agrofert group, operate in the nation and other central European states, benefiting from millions of euros in domestic and European farming and other grants, as well as government deals.

Under Czech law, cabinet members cannot obtaining public aid or contracts. The anti-corruption organization Transparency International has indicated that to avoid a ethical breach, Babiš must either sell, decline public contracts, or not enter public office.

Previous Tenure and Current Intentions

Babiš affirmed he would “abide by the regulations” if appointed as prime minister, but declined to explain how in beforehand because the issue was “an highly personal and personal matter for me, and journalists will invariably criticise me regardless”.

During his initial tenure as premier, from 2017 to 2021, Babiš encountered several court cases and an European inquiry over possible conflicts of interest. He placed his assets into fiduciary arrangements, while retaining some influence over them.

A judicial body and the European Commission both determined that this did not suffice. Babiš confirmed recently that he was once more the sole owner of Agrofert and insisted he was “implementing measures” to avoid a ethical problem, but declined to reveal details.

Coalition Deal and Foreign Policy Consequences

The billionaire populist has concluded a coalition agreement with two rightwing fringe parties, the ultra-conservative, Russia-friendly SPD, which has called for a referendum on leaving the EU, and the Motorists for Themselves, which has mainly opposed the EU’s Green Deal.

The incoming administration, if approved, is likely to bolster the populist bloc in central and eastern Europe and could strain backing from Western nations for Ukraine – even though Babiš has called Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to assure him of the nation's backing.

Pavel, who as president has a role for foreign policy, also demanded that the coalition’s programme include a statement on the official stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine, with a pledge to fulfilling Nato obligations.

The president has previously said he would not approve any ministerial nominees who might doubt the Czech Republic’s EU and Nato commitments, a requirement that the ultra-conservative party has said it will satisfy by nominating non-partisan experts.