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| Czech Republic protests: Andrej Babis urged to quit as PM | Czech Republic protests: Andrej Babis urged to quit as PM |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Prague demanding that PM Andrej Babis resign. | Hundreds of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Prague demanding that PM Andrej Babis resign. |
| Mr Babis is facing a criminal investigation over alleged fraud, and is also the subject of an EU conflict-of-interest investigation. He denies the allegations. | Mr Babis is facing a criminal investigation over alleged fraud, and is also the subject of an EU conflict-of-interest investigation. He denies the allegations. |
| Organisers say about 250,000 people attended the rally. The figure could not be verified. | Organisers say about 250,000 people attended the rally. The figure could not be verified. |
| It is said to be the largest protest since the fall of communism in 1989. | It is said to be the largest protest since the fall of communism in 1989. |
| Who was marching? | |
| The protest was organised by the Million Moments for Democracy group. The movement has grown from a small student initiative into a mass movement. | The protest was organised by the Million Moments for Democracy group. The movement has grown from a small student initiative into a mass movement. |
| It has organised a number of protests this year. The last major rally was on 5 June when 120,000 people marched in the capital. | It has organised a number of protests this year. The last major rally was on 5 June when 120,000 people marched in the capital. |
| At the rally, Mikulas Minar, the head of the protest group, told AFP news agency: "Judging from the aerial photos, it looks like we're about 250,000. We'll see how many more will arrive." | At the rally, Mikulas Minar, the head of the protest group, told AFP news agency: "Judging from the aerial photos, it looks like we're about 250,000. We'll see how many more will arrive." |
| What are the allegations against Babis? | What are the allegations against Babis? |
| The prime minister is facing a criminal investigation in the Czech Republic for alleged abuse of €2m in EU subsidies over 10 years ago. | The prime minister is facing a criminal investigation in the Czech Republic for alleged abuse of €2m in EU subsidies over 10 years ago. |
| Police say they are investigating accusations that Mr Babis hid his ownership of a farm and conference centre known as "Stork Nest" (Capi hnizdo in Czech) so that it could qualify for an EU subsidy designed to help small businesses. | Police say they are investigating accusations that Mr Babis hid his ownership of a farm and conference centre known as "Stork Nest" (Capi hnizdo in Czech) so that it could qualify for an EU subsidy designed to help small businesses. |
| The billionaire is also the subject of an EU conflict-of-interest investigation over his Agrofert conglomerate, which he transferred to two trust funds shortly before he came to power in 2017. | The billionaire is also the subject of an EU conflict-of-interest investigation over his Agrofert conglomerate, which he transferred to two trust funds shortly before he came to power in 2017. |
| However a European Commission draft report leaked earlier this month found that Mr Babis was still profiting from the group. The report determined that he should return about 451m Czech koruna (€17.5m; £15.5m) in subsidies. | However a European Commission draft report leaked earlier this month found that Mr Babis was still profiting from the group. The report determined that he should return about 451m Czech koruna (€17.5m; £15.5m) in subsidies. |
| Mr Babis has dismissed all of the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. | Mr Babis has dismissed all of the allegations as baseless and politically motivated. |
| A day after police advised that the state prosecutor file charges against him, the minister of justice was changed. | A day after police advised that the state prosecutor file charges against him, the minister of justice was changed. |
| Demonstrators argue that the new Minister of Justice, Marie Benesova, is too close to Mr Babis. | Demonstrators argue that the new Minister of Justice, Marie Benesova, is too close to Mr Babis. |
| The 71-year-old previously voted against a request from the police to strip Mr Babis of parliamentary immunity. | The 71-year-old previously voted against a request from the police to strip Mr Babis of parliamentary immunity. |
| How has the prime minister reacted? | How has the prime minister reacted? |
| Mr Babis branded the EU report as "an attack on the Czech Republic" and has refused to return any subsidies. | Mr Babis branded the EU report as "an attack on the Czech Republic" and has refused to return any subsidies. |
| He said: "The Czech Republic will certainly not have to return any subsidies. There is no reason for that because I do not violate Czech nor European legal rules regarding conflict of interest." | He said: "The Czech Republic will certainly not have to return any subsidies. There is no reason for that because I do not violate Czech nor European legal rules regarding conflict of interest." |
| Mr Babis has also refused to step down. | Mr Babis has also refused to step down. |