Andrej Babiš: The Czech judiciary is again requesting the lifting of immunity

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Andrej Babiš (archive recording)

Photo: Kamaryt Michal / dpa

The judiciary in the Czech Republic does not give up: the public prosecutor has again requested the lifting of the immunity of the still incumbent Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.

A judicial spokesman confirmed a request on Wednesday.

The renewed application for the waiver of Babiš's immunity was necessary because the protection against criminal prosecution was renewed with the beginning of the new legislative period.

Babiš had lost the parliamentary elections at the beginning of October, but is likely to continue in office until a new liberal-conservative government under the citizen democrat Petr Fiala is appointed.

The investigation is about the alleged fraudulent use of EU subsidies in the millions for the “Storchennest” wellness resort.

The funds were actually intended for small and medium-sized companies.

The multi-billionaire Babiš is the founder of a corporate empire with more than 200 individual companies.

He himself repeatedly denied the allegations and emphasized that the funding had been repaid.

Shortly before the election, Babiš also had to explain revelations from the so-called »Pandora Papers«.

According to this, he is said to have bought a château in France years ago through several mailbox companies.

Babiš denied doing anything illegal.

The 67-year-old is the founder of the populist party ANO.

as / dpa