Andrej Babiš faces Seznam.cz lawsuit and FAU court acquittal

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš is facing multiple legal and political challenges. A court has begun proceedings regarding a defamation lawsuit filed by Seznam.cz, the country’s largest internet company. Seznam seeks an apology and the removal of statements by Babiš that labeled its news outlets as ‘politically activist media’ and made allegations regarding tax practices involving owner Ivo Lukačovič. Babiš’s legal team maintains the claims are baseless and taken out of context.

In a separate legal development, a court has acquitted Vojtěch Csabi and his company, FAU, of all charges. The ruling determined that the 2016 intervention by the financial and customs administration against the company was unlawful and lacked evidence of tax evasion. The court noted the state’s actions appeared to be centrally motivated, a case that has long been linked to Babiš’s tenure as Finance Minister.

Additionally, tensions persist between the government and the judiciary. Justice Minister Jeroným Tejc met with the head of the Prague High Court to discuss Babiš’s criticisms of the judicial system, specifically regarding the ‘Čapí hnízdo’ subsidy case. While the Minister emphasized respect for judicial independence, legal professional bodies have criticized Babiš’s rhetoric regarding court decisions.