Four Months Before Election, Stork’s Nest Returns to Haunt Czech PM

The charges centre on a 50-million-koruna (2 million euros) subsidy granted to the Capi hnizdo (Stork's Nest) leisure resort, which sits around 50km south of Prague, in 2007. Police suspect that Babis hid Agrofert's ownership of the resort in order to access the subsidy, for which only small companies were eligible.

As he has since the case first emerged in 2015, Babis protested his innocence to the media. "Nothing illegal has ever happened and I reject all nonsensical accusations," he said. "At the same time, I still believe that our judicial system is fair and, I hope, it will show in this matter."

Mayerova refused to comment, but has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The police proposal will be assessed by supervisory public prosecutor Jaroslav Saroch. After studying the 34,000-page report, he will then decide whether to file charges or toss out the prosecution.

Saroch plumped for the latter when police first proposed criminal charges in April 2019. In that file, they described how Babis had briefly handed Stork's Nest to his wife and children during the time in which the application for the subsidy was made.

However, within weeks, then chief state prosecutor Pavel Zeman overturned the decision. Calling it premature, he sent the file back to the police with a request for more evidence.

Photo: Capi hnizdo Magnifying glass

Many a Czech prime minister have lost their job for less than the possibility of fraud charges, but Babis is part of a new wave of populist politicians. Over the last few years, they've tested the boundaries to see if there's any scandal that cannot be brazened out - and they've often come up trumps.

However, there are signs that in the wake of the government's...