Economics
Czech Premier Announces Resignation After Feud With Billionaire Finance Chief
- Row over finance minister’s empire precedes October elections
- Dismissing Babis could turn him into a martyr, Sobotka says
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Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka brought down his government over a clash with his billionaire finance minister, Andrej Babis, six months before the two were to face off in general elections.
With his ruling Social Democrats falling behind Babis’s ANO party in opinion polls, Sobotka unexpectedly announced that he’ll submit his cabinet’s resignation to President Milos Zeman this week. By torpedoing his own administration, Sobotka pushed the intensifying conflict with Babis over the brink after giving the tycoon an ultimatum to explain accusations that he evaded taxes and engaged in other financial “tricks” as he built his empire. Babis has repeatedly rejected the allegations.