Andrej Babis Becomes Czech PM, Vows to Separate from Business Interests

Wed Dec 10 2025 05:30:44 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The newly appointed Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babis, pledges to sever ties with his conglomerate Agrofert in a bid to uphold public trust amidst skepticism from critics.

Billionaire Andrej Babis has been sworn in as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, following his promise to divest from his extensive business empire, Agrofert. Amidst ambitions to prioritize the interests of Czech citizens, Babis faces skepticism regarding the mechanics of his proposed blind trust, with critics questioning the effectiveness of such divestment in achieving true separation from business influence in politics.

Billionaire Andrej Babis has been appointed as the Czech Republic's new prime minister, with his full cabinet expected to take office within days.

His appointment followed a key demand from President Petr Pavel - a public pledge by Babis to relinquish control over his vast food-processing, agriculture and chemicals conglomerate Agrofert.

I promise to be a prime minister who defends the interests of all our citizens, at home and abroad, Babis said after the ceremony at Prague Castle.

These are lofty ambitions, but Babis, 71, is used to thinking big. If he honors his pledge to divest from the company he built from scratch, he will no longer benefit from Agrofert's profits, which permeate both food and agricultural products.

Babis's government will mark a shift in direction from its strongly pro-Ukrainian predecessor, as he embraces members from far-right and Eurosceptic parties in his cabinet.

Critics, including Transparency International, remain unconvinced about the effectiveness of a proposed blind trust aimed at divesting Agrofert. They argue that any trust arrangement remains vague and lacks the legal foundation needed for true operational independence.

Babis also has significant interests in private healthcare and other sectors within the Czech Republic, raising concerns over potential conflicts of interest that may arise during his term.

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