PRAGUE (AP) – The Czech prime minister unexpectedly announced on Tuesday that his government will resign over unexplained business dealings of his rival Andrej Babis, the country’s finance minister.
Premier Bohuslav Sobotka said that he will meet President Milos Zeman this week to formally submit the government’s resignation.
Tuesday’s move reflects tensions in the ruling coalition about six months ahead of the parliamentary election.
Sobotka said there are suspicions that Babis, the country’s second richest businessman, avoided paying taxes in the past. Doubts have also surfaced about how he became wealthy.
Babis heads a centrist movement that is a favorite to win October’s ballot, paving the way for him to become prime minister. He previously denied any wrongdoing.