Pro-Russian billionaire Babiš has once again become the head of the Czech government

President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel on Tuesday, December 9, appointed the leader of the ANO movement Andrei Babish by the Prime Minister, reports Czech media outlet Radio Prague International. The billionaire and owner of the Agrofert holding is returning to the post less than four years after his resignation.

Andrej Babiš is a Czech politician and businessman who served as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2021. He was previously Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister from 2014 to 2017. Babiš is the founding leader of the ANO political party, which he has led since 2012. As the owner of Agrofert and other companies, he is among the wealthiest and most influential businessmen in the Czech Republic.

The appointment ceremony took place on Tuesday morning at Prague Castle. Pavel is expected to appoint the rest of the government, which is formed by ANO (Action of Dissatisfied Citizens), SPD (Freedom and Direct Democracy), and the "Automobilists", within approximately a week.

Babiš, who celebrated his 71st birthday at the beginning of September, became the oldest politician to ever head a Czech or Czechoslovak government.

Pavel stated that Babiš's appointment fulfilled the will of the voters. At the same time, the president reminded the new prime minister of the need to resolve the conflict of interest related to his business ownership.

"The Czech Republic is in a difficult security and economic situation, and it will have to solve a number of problems that will not be pleasant for the public. It will take not only vision, but also courage and not to question ties in the European Union and the North Atlantic Alliance," Pavel said.

Last week, Babiš announced that the shares of the Agrofert holding company would be managed by an independent administrator under the supervision of an independent trustee through a trust structure. The public announcement of this decision was the president's condition for appointing the billionaire to the post of prime minister.

"I promise all citizens that I will fight for their interests not only at home but also everywhere in the world. I will do everything possible to fulfill the government's program statement and everything possible to make the Czech Republic the best place to live on our entire planet," the new prime minister said after his appointment.

• On November 5, it became known that the Czech Republic might stop its aid to Ukraine after forming a new government under the leadership of a pro-Russian Andrei Babish.