Czech election favourite charged with fraud

Czech police have charged Andrej Babiš, leader of the ANO movement and the favourite to become prime minister after an election this month, with fraud in a case involving a €2 million subsidy.

Babiš, a billionaire businessman, and Jaroslav Faltýnek, his ANO deputy, deny the accusations which centre on an EU subsidy to a farm owned by Mr Babiš’s family members.

Mr Babis claims that the case is politically motivated, aimed at hurting his chances in this month’s election, which ANO is widely expected to win.