Andrej Babis: From Billionaire Tycoon to Czech Prime Minister

Wed Dec 10 2025 01:30:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Andrej Babis, a billionaire businessman, has taken the helm as the new Prime Minister of the Czech Republic with a pledge to divest from his extensive empire, Agrofert. His appointment marks a significant shift in the country's leadership and policies.

Andrej Babis has been appointed as the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, pledging to separate from his conglomerate, Agrofert, to eliminate conflicts of interest. This transition signals a departure from the previous administration's pro-Ukrainian stance, focusing instead on national interests. Despite skepticism from critics regarding the viability of his trust arrangement to manage Agrofert, Babis aims to make a positive impact as he navigates his second term in office.

Billionaire Andrej Babis has been appointed as the Czech Republic's new prime minister, with his full cabinet expected to take office within days.

His appointment followed a key demand from President Petr Pavel - a public pledge by Babis to relinquish control over his vast food-processing, agriculture, and chemicals conglomerate Agrofert.

I promise to be a prime minister who defends the interests of all our citizens, at home and abroad, Babis stated after the ceremony at Prague Castle.

These are lofty ambitions, but Babis, 71, is used to thinking big. Agrofert is deeply embedded in the Czech commercial ecosystem, leading to the development of consumer apps to help shoppers avoid its products.

If he honors his pledge to divest from Agrofert, he will no longer benefit from the sale of products ranging from frankfurters to fertilizers. Instead, he will place the company in a trust managed by an independent administrator.

However, critics remain skeptical of this arrangement, as they fear it does not sufficiently separate Babis from his enterprise, which is intertwined with various sectors across Czech life, including healthcare and retail.

Babis has shifted politically to the right in recent years, and his cabinet may include members of far-right parties, indicating a significant change in the Czech political landscape.