Czech opposition files a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, accused of a conflict of interest and a record budget deficit

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is facing a no-confidence motion on Wednesday filed by all opposition parties, which accuse him of a persistent conflict of interest, promoting a budget with a record deficit, and exerting pressure on the media and independent institutions.

The motion was filed on Friday by ODS, STAN, the Pirates, KDU-CSL and TOP 09, less than two weeks before municipal and Senate elections. The opposition argues that the transfer of the Agrofert group to the RSVP Trust fund did not eliminate the prime minister’s conflict of interest.

Babiš, who returned to power in December 2025 after his first term from 2017 to 2021, says the measure complies with Czech law. However, the European Commission deemed the transfer insufficient and suspended, at the beginning of September, the payment of €3.18 million in European funds.

Criticism also targets the draft 2027 budget, which provides for a deficit of 386 billion korunas, equivalent to €15.8 billion. The amount represents the second-largest deficit in the Czech Republic’s history, despite economic growth and inflation below 2%.

The motion has little chance of passing. Babiš has the support of the far-right SPD party and the nationalist Self-Drivers movement, with which he controls 108 of the 200 parliamentary seats.