EU funds fraud: Andrej Babis will be retried in the Czech Republic

Prague – The High Court of Prague overturned the decision of the court that had acquitted former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, a spokesperson told AFP, and sent the case back to him to “reexamine it in accordance with its instructions,” believing that an offense of fraud against European funds had indeed been committed.

Andrej Babis, 70, is a Czech billionaire born in Slovakia, who entered politics late with a liberal profile and served as Prime Minister from 2017 to 2021.

A year later, while he had returned to being an opposition deputy, he was charged with misappropriation of European funds for the benefit of his agricultural, agri-food, and chemical group.

Specifically, he is suspected of having contributed to removing his farm, the “Stork’s Nest,” from the conglomerate so that it could benefit from a community grant of two million euros intended for small businesses.

The businessman, who wants to become Prime Minister again, has always denied his responsibility. His party ANO is leading in polls three months ahead of the legislative elections on October 3 and 4. (June 23, 2025)