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Thousands Protest in Prague Over Fears of Judicial Meddling

Thousands Protest in Prague Over Fears of Judicial Meddling

(Bloomberg) -- Tens of thousands of Czechs protested to demand the dismissal of the justice minister, who they fear will meddle with courts as the prime minister faces a fraud probe.

About 50,000 people filled Wenceslas Square in central Prague, according to organizers, at the site of anti-communist demonstrations that helped bring down the Iron Curtain three decades ago. Billionaire Premier Andrej Babis condemned the rally, the fourth in as many weeks and the largest against his government since he took power in 2017.

The protests underscore tensions over independent courts in the European Union’s post-communist wing, where governments from Warsaw to Bucharest have clashed with the bloc over interference with the judiciary. While Babis has steered clear of meddling with the legal system, he has slammed the police for investigating him and his family over allegations of misusing EU funds.

Thousands Protest in Prague Over Fears of Judicial Meddling

The latest controversy centers around naming Marie Benesova as justice minister in April, two weeks weeks after police recommended charging Babis with fraud. Critics say Benesova may try to influence prosecutors to prevent Babis from going to court. Benesova has said she won’t.

Read more: New Czech Justice Chief Faces Ire Over Fraud Probe Into Premier

The premier rejects the fraud case as a plot fabricated by his opponents to destroy his political career. He called the demonstrations part of a political campaign by rivals before this week’s European Parliament elections.

The protests have failed to dent Babis’s support, and his ANO party remains by far the most popular in opinion polls. He has said he won’t step down even if he faces a court trial following a three-year investigation into whether one of his former businesses illegally obtained about 2 million euros ($2.2 million) of EU aid more than a decade ago.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Laca in Prague at placa@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@bloomberg.net, Michael Winfrey, Andrea Dudik

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