PRAGUE, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, also winner of the October parliamentary elections, on Thursday announced his decision to divest himself of the Agrofert group, clearing a major obstacle to forming a new government.
Czech President Petr Pavel welcomed the clarity of the arrangement in a statement and announced that he will appoint Babis to the post of prime minister on Dec. 9.
Following Babis' victory in October's elections, President Pavel had requested Babis to resolve his conflict of interest.
In a video message released on the social media platform Facebook, Babis said that his shares of the Agrofert group will be administered through a trust structure by a fully independent trustee, supervised by an independent protector.
Babis noted that relinquishing the holding and "giving up half a lifetime of work" was a personal sacrifice and not easy, but he wants to fulfill what the election result and the people have entrusted him with.
"With this step, I have met the requirement set by the president for my appointment as prime minister," he said.
After winning the elections, Babis' ANO party has signed a coalition agreement with the Freedom and Direct Democracy and the Motorists. ■
