'Trumpist' Czech PM-elect refuses to sell business empire amid conflict of interest row

Source: The Guardian

Andrej Babiš, the self-proclaimed “Trumpist” billionaire who won last month’s Czech election, has refused to sell his huge business empire, but insisted he will resolve a conflict of interest that threatens to bar him from becoming prime minister.

Babiš, whose ANO party finished a comfortable first in the October vote but failed to secure a majority in parliament, said in a social media post on Thursday he would not sell his Agrofert farming, food processing and chemicals conglomerate.

“I have repeatedly said I will never sell Agrofert. I have repeatedly said I will resolve the conflict of interest in accordance with Czech and European laws,” Babiš, whose net worth is estimated $3.9bn (£2.9bn), said. “This is not like selling a roll in a bakery.”

His remarks came after the Czech president, Petr Pavel, on Wednesday said the 71-year-old populist must explain publicly how he will eliminate conflicts of interest arising from his business activities before he can be appointed prime minister.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/13/trumpist-czech-pm-elect-refuses-to-sell-business-empire-amid-conflict-of-interest-row