Czech flag flies in a city square / Envato Market

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

PRAGUE/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – The Czech Republic, regarded as one of Europe’s most atheist nations, was preparing for a new government Wednesday after a Trump-style billionaire was appointed as its new prime minister amid ongoing scrutiny from the European Union.

Andrej Babiš was expected to take office with his full cabinet within days after pledging to make the Czech Republic “great again,” echoing language famously used by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, whom he has met at the White House.

His appointment followed a condition set by President Petr Pavel: a public commitment by Babiš to relinquish control of Agrofert, his vast food-processing, agriculture, and chemicals conglomerate.

“I promise to be a prime minister who defends the interests of all our citizens, at home and abroad,” Babiš said during the ceremony at Prague Castle.

“A prime minister who will work to make the Czech Republic the best place to live on the entire planet.”

BABIS IN POWER AMID EU SCRUTINY

Even so, Babiš, 71, faces scrutiny as he returns to power with his trademark confidence.

His Agrofert conglomerate is deeply woven into the Czech economy. A smartphone application even helps shoppers identify products associated with its more than 200 subsidiaries. If an item — such as Viennese sausages from Kostelecké uzeniny or sliced bread from Penam — belongs to Agrofert, a thumbs-down symbol appears on the application.

Babiš, who previously governed from 2017 to 2021, has repositioned himself further to the right. His forthcoming cabinet is set to include lawmakers from what critics call the “far-right” SPD as well as the Eurosceptic Motorists for Themselves movement.

He says he intends to honor his pledge to distance himself entirely from the conglomerate he built, adding that he will no longer earn money from Agrofert products — “from frankfurters to fertilizer.” He maintains that as prime minister, he will have no access to the company’s financial data and no ability to influence decisions that could benefit the group.

According to Babiš, Agrofert — valued at roughly $4.3 billion — will be transferred into a trust overseen by an independent administrator until his death, after which it would pass to his children. In a video posted on social media, he said the arrangement goes “far beyond” what Czech law requires.

AGROFERT’S ECONOMIC INFLUENCE UNDER REVIEW

However, several legal questions remain unresolved, including whether the trust would be based in the Czech Republic or abroad. Since Czech legislation does not provide for a true “blind trust,” specialists say designing an acceptable system may take months.

Transparency advocates remain doubtful. “A blind trust is not a solution,” argued David Kotora of Transparency International’s Czech branch. “There’s no separation. [Babiš] obviously knows the managers. He knows Agrofert’s portfolio. From an executive position, even at a European level, he could theoretically intervene in matters that would affect the sector in which Agrofert operates.”

Agrofert is far from his only commercial foothold. In Prague’s eastern districts, a private health clinic rises beside the O₂ Arena. Though formally owned by FutureLife a.s., the company is majority-controlled by Hartenberg Holding, which is itself overseen by Babiš.

Hartenberg also operates a network of reproductive clinics, the florist chain Flamengo, and the lingerie retailer Astratex. The breadth of Babiš’s business interests touches nearly every corner of Czech life — and as he returns to the prime ministership, that influence may expand further.

Czech authorities and the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, have investigated possible conflicts of interest, focusing on agricultural and regional development funds allocated during periods when Babiš held public office.

EU PROBES ADD PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT

In 2022, EU auditors concluded he had been in a conflict of interest during his previous term, and some subsidies were frozen or ordered repaid. The long-running “Stork’s Nest” affair — involving EU funds used for a conference center linked to Agrofert — also dominated headlines, though court rulings have varied.

Babiš denies wrongdoing and accuses political rivals of misusing EU institutions to weaken him. Still, the controversies continue to cloud his return to office.

Babiš’s background during Communist rule has also fueled criticism.

Archival documents show he was a member of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia (KSČ) in the 1980s. His name also appeared in records of the StB, the communist state security service, as a collaborator.

Babiš insists he never knowingly cooperated with the secret police, and courts later ruled the archival evidence unreliable. Yet the association has continued to haunt him politically as he takes office.

CHURCHES SEEK RENEWAL IN SECULAR NATION

Babiš takes office at a time when Christian churches in the Czech Republic are cautiously rebuilding their presence.

After decades of Communist repression — followed by years of post-communist secularization — churches are working to regain relevance through charity projects, youth ministries, festivals, and community outreach. Some dioceses report modest increases in participation.

Still, the country remains one of the least religious in Europe, and mistrust of organized religion remains high. The Czech Republic, a nation of roughly 10.7 million people, is consistently ranked among the most secular societies in Europe.

The latest census found that nearly 47.8 percent of residents identify with no religion, while only a small fraction belongs to a church. International surveys reinforce this trend: a 2017 Pew Research study showed that 72 percent of Czechs consider themselves religiously unaffiliated, and about two-thirds say they do not believe in God.

Among younger people, the figures are even more striking. A major European study of 16- to 29-year-olds reported that 91 percent identify as having no religious affiliation — the highest share recorded anywhere in Europe.

CZECHIA AMONG WORLD’S MOST ATHEIST NATIONS

Researchers say the country’s unusually deep secularism is rooted in its modern history. The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, spent over four decades under Communist rule as part of Czechoslovakia (1948–1989), when the state repressed religious institutions, restricted church activities, and promoted state atheism. That era accelerated secularization processes already underway before World War II.

Yet some signs of renewed interest are emerging. Several dioceses report growth in chaplaincy programs, charity initiatives, and small Christian communities. Church leaders are watching closely to see whether these developments signal a genuine Christian revival or simply reflect shifting cultural habits under a Babiš government.

Babiš has offered varying descriptions of his spiritual outlook. In a 2019 interview, he described himself as “irreligious but spiritual,” saying he draws inspiration from “the cosmos.”

During his 2023 campaign, he called himself an “occasional church-goer” and spoke of a personal devotion to the Infant Jesus of Prague, a well-known Catholic symbol in the country. As he prepared a presidential bid that year, he planned a visit to the Carmelite church housing the statue, but the order cancelled the visit, reportedly due to clergy objections to his political image.

On another occasion, Babiš said his goal was not to oppose religion but to resist what he termed “fanatical religion,” a remark he linked to broader economic and climate-policy debates.

That’s why his return to power is expected to deliver modern-day, media-savvy political drama reminiscent of the turbulence surrounding Trump’s presidency across the Atlantic.

The post Trump-Style Billionaire Andrej Babiš Returns To Power As Czech Republic Faces EU Scrutiny And Atheism (Worthy News In-Depth) appeared first on Worthy Christian News.