Andrej Babiš facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrej Babiš
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Babiš in 2025
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| Prime Minister of the Czech Republic | |
| In office 6 December 2017 – 17 December 2021 |
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| President | Miloš Zeman |
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Bohuslav Sobotka |
| Succeeded by | Petr Fiala |
| Leader of ANO | |
| Assumed office 11 May 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic | |
| In office 29 January 2014 – 24 May 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Bohuslav Sobotka |
| Preceded by | Jan Fischer |
| Succeeded by | Richard Brabec |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 29 January 2014 – 24 May 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Bohuslav Sobotka |
| Preceded by | Jan Fischer |
| Succeeded by | Ivan Pilný |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| Assumed office 26 October 2013 |
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| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1954 Bratislava, Czechoslovakia |
| Citizenship |
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| Political party | ANO (2012–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Communist Party of Slovakia (1980–1989) |
| Spouses | Beata Adamovičová (m. 1990, div. 2000s) Monika Herodesová
(m. 2017) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of Economics, Bratislava |
| Occupation | Businessman Politician |
| Signature |  |
Andrej Babiš (born September 2, 1954) is a Czech businessman and politician. He was the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2021. Before that, he served as the Minister of Finance. Babiš is the founder and leader of the political party ANO.
Born in Bratislava, which is now in Slovakia, Babiš became one of the richest people in the Czech Republic through his business career. He founded and owns the company Agrofert, which is one of the largest firms in the country. According to Forbes, his net worth was estimated at $3.5 billion in 2024.
Babiš became prime minister after his party, ANO, won the most votes in the 2017 election. He was the oldest and wealthiest person to ever become prime minister of the country. He was also the first prime minister to be born outside the Czech Republic and the first to hold citizenship from two countries (Czech Republic and Slovakia).
During his time as prime minister, his government faced major events like the COVID-19 pandemic. His leadership was also marked by disagreements with the European Commission over his business interests. After the 2021 election, he was succeeded as prime minister by Petr Fiala. In 2023, Babiš ran for president but lost to Petr Pavel.
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Early Life and Education
Andrej Babiš was born on September 2, 1954, in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). His father was a diplomat, so Babiš spent part of his childhood in other countries like France and Switzerland.
He went to high school and then studied international trade at the University of Economics in Bratislava. After graduating in 1978, he started working for a state-owned trading company. In the 1980s, he was a member of the Communist Party and was connected to the StB, Czechoslovakia's secret security service.
A Successful Businessman
After the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which ended communist rule, Babiš moved to the Czech Republic. In 1993, he started managing a new company called Agrofert. Over time, he became the full owner of the company.
Babiš grew Agrofert into one of the biggest companies in the Czech Republic. At first, it focused on farming and agriculture. Later, it expanded into food production and chemicals. By 2011, Agrofert was made up of over 230 smaller companies.
In 2013, Babiš also entered the media business. His company bought MAFRA, which publishes two of the largest Czech newspapers. Agrofert also owns Radio Impuls, a popular radio station. Some people worried that owning media companies could give him too much influence in politics.
Entering the World of Politics
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In 2011, Babiš started his own political party called ANO. He said he wanted to fight corruption in the country's political system. In the 2013 elections, ANO became the second-largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, the main part of the Czech parliament.
ANO joined a coalition government, which is when different parties agree to rule together. Babiš became the Minister of Finance. In this role, he introduced new rules for businesses, such as requiring electronic records of sales.
European Migrant Crisis
During the European migrant crisis in 2015, Babiš disagreed with the European Union's plan to give each country a certain number of refugees to accept. He said he would not accept these quotas for the Czech Republic because he wanted to ensure the safety of Czech citizens.
Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
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In the 2017 election, Babiš's party ANO won the most votes, and he was appointed prime minister. At first, other parties did not want to join a government with him because of questions about how one of his companies, the Stork's Nest farm, had received money from the European Union.
Babiš first formed a minority government, which means his party did not have a majority of seats in parliament. This government lost a vote of no confidence, which is a vote to see if the government still has enough support to lead.
In 2018, he formed a new government with the Social Democratic Party (ČSSD). This government was supported by the Communist Party. It was the first time since 1989 that a government needed the support of the Communists to stay in power.
Leading the Country
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As prime minister, Babiš's government made several changes. It raised the retirement age and increased tax credits for families with children. It also introduced electronic toll collection on highways.
One of the biggest challenges during his time in office was the COVID-19 pandemic. The government's handling of the crisis was criticized by many for being disorganized.
In foreign policy, his government expelled over 80 Russian diplomats from Prague. This happened after it was revealed that Russia was involved in explosions at a Czech ammunition warehouse in 2014. This event created a major diplomatic conflict with Russia.
Public Protests
Throughout his time as prime minister, Babiš faced large public protests. Many of these were organized by a group called "A Million Moments for Democracy." The protests were often about concerns that his business interests created a conflict with his role as a politician.
In June 2019, one of the largest protests since the Velvet Revolution took place in Prague, with about 250,000 people attending. The protesters called for Babiš to resign.
Presidential Bid
In 2022, Babiš announced he would run for president in the 2023 Czech presidential election. He was one of the main candidates, along with Petr Pavel, a retired army general.
Babiš's campaign slogan was "I won't drag Czechia into war. I am a diplomat, not a soldier." He advanced to the second round of the election but lost to Petr Pavel, receiving about 42% of the vote. After the election, Babiš said he hoped Pavel would be a president for everyone.
Personal Life
Babiš lives in Průhonice, a town near Prague. He has four children. He has two children from his first marriage and two from his second marriage to Monika Babišová. The couple announced their separation in April 2024.
Babiš has dual citizenship of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He has said that he considers himself to be a Czech.
See also
In Spanish: Andrej Babiš para niños
