The former Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš has gone on trial in Prague on charges of subsidy fraud, in a case that could have profound implications for the country's politics. Babiš, a billionaire businessman, is accused of illegally obtaining €2 million (£1.7 million) in EU funds for a hotel and conference centre called Stork's Nest, which was ineligible for small business aid because it was part of his vast Agrofert conglomerate.
The trial, which opened on Monday at the Prague municipal court, stems from a seven-year police investigation into events dating back to 2007. The EU's anti-fraud unit, Olaf, concluded in 2018 that numerous laws were broken to obtain the funds. Babiš, who denies the charges and claims they are politically motivated, described the indictment as 'a lie' before the proceedings began.
The 68-year-old appeared solemn in a dark suit as he entered the courtroom, surrounded by a media scrum. The public benches were packed, with entry granted by ticket only. Babiš is on trial alongside his former aide Jana Nagyová, who is standing for the ANO party in the forthcoming senate elections. The presiding judge, Jan Šott, heads a five-judge panel that will ultimately decide the case; a conviction could carry a jail sentence, though prosecutors are seeking lesser penalties including fines.
The trial has been delayed for years, partly due to Babiš's political immunity while in office. He lost power in a general election last October, and MPs lifted his immunity in March. A guilty verdict could scupper his ambitions to run for the Czech presidency in elections due in January, although he has not officially declared his candidacy. He has been touring the country in a camper van, making populist speeches criticising the Czech Republic's support for Ukraine and its acceptance of refugees.
Outside the courthouse, campaign group Million Moments for Democracy set up a mock jail cell on a trailer, featuring a gold-plated toilet and a golden duvet, to highlight the prospect of a sitting president being convicted and imprisoned. The group said it was not trying to influence the verdict but to encourage people to think carefully about their choice for president.
