Agrofert

The real world consequences of this dispute could be seen on Wednesday, when European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni for the first time stated officially that delays in negotiations over the Polish national spending plan for the EU Recovery Fund are being caused, in part, by Poland's problems with the rule of law.

By way of contrast, Chinese pressure to stop Jaroslav Kubera visiting Taiwan took a more sinister turn when the Senate president keeled over from a heart attack. When his successor, Milos Vystrcil, embarked on the trip anyway in September, Beijing hoped to similarly scare Prague with threats of retaliation.

About 15,000 people, according to police, have again protested against the Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš in central Prague. A week ago, 50,000 people participated in another demonstration, BTA quoted global agencies as saying.

The protest movement is being organized by the Million Moments for Democracy civic group, which is seeking the resignation of the prime minister. 

More than 200,000 Czechs have gathered in Prague to demand the resignation of billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, France Press office reported.

The Czech prime minister is off the hook for alleged fraud — for now.

For four years, Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis has faced allegations that he illegally used EU subsidies to build a conference centre near Prague known as the Stork's Nest.

The EU has already frozen non-farm payments to Agrofert — one of the largest Czech recipients of EU aid — and the Czech supreme state prosecutor is looking into whether criminal charges should be brought.

Brussels is likely to levy fines and demand that past aid is repaid, meaning that either the state or Agrofert would have to bear the cost.

An estimated 250,000 people rallied in Prague on Sunday to demand the resignation of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis in the country's largest protest since the fall of communism in 1989.

The Czech prime minister, Bohuslav Sobotka of the Social Democrats, says he plans to inform the president of the resignation of his government by the end of the week. Making the surprise announcement on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Sobotka blamed the situation on ANO's Andrej Babiš, who he said could not remain in the post of minister of finance, Radio Praha reported, qoted by Focus News Agency.