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Czech President Petr Pavel used Monday’s Velvet Revolution anniversary to deliver a sharp warning over the unresolved conflict of interest of Prime minister-hopeful Andrej Babiš, winner of who is trying to form a new government.

Pavel signalled he may refuse to appoint the populist ANO party leader, who won October’s Czech parliamentary election, as prime minister unless the matter is resolved.

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Czech law bars government members from benefiting from state subsidies through companies they control.

Pavel stressed that appointing Babiš while he still owns Agrofert would “create an unlawful situation”.

“I don’t think that’s what the public expects of me, nor does the constitution expect that of me,” he told Czech Radio on Monday. Transparency, he added, is a prerequisite – and if Babiš cannot offer a satisfactory solution, “the winning party should offer another candidate”.

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