European parliament censures Czech PM in unprecedented move

Source: The Guardian

The European parliament has formally censured the Czech prime minister, Andrej Babiš, over conflict of interest accusations, in unprecedented criticism of a serving leader.

MEPs called for the suspension of all EU payments to a business owned by the billionaire PM in a non-binding resolution adopted by 434 votes to 64, with 47 abstentions.

The move will pile pressure on Babiš, who has been accused of a conflict of interest over his role as prime minister and links to Agrofert, the food, chemicals and agriculture conglomerate he founded.

Thousands of protesters in Prague called on the tycoon-turned-politician to resign last month over separate corruption allegations. The Czech leader’s son recently said he had been lured to Crimea and abducted to stop him testifying about his father’s business interests.

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Jennifer Rankin in Brussels
Thu 13 Dec 2018 15.54 GMT


Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/13/european-parliament-censures-czech-pm-andrej-babis-unprecedented-move