07:54 GMT +307 December 2019

Czech Republic's President Milos Zeman (File)

Czech President Vetoes Bill Banning Gov’t Members From Media Control

© AP Photo / Petr David Josek

16:42 19.12.2016(updated 16:55 19.12.2016) Get short URL

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Czech President Milos Zeman imposed a veto on a bill, banning the country’s government members from having stakes in the media or controlling companies, Zeman’s spokesman Jiri Ovcacek said Monday.

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PRAGUE (Sputnik) – The bill, dubbed Lex Babis, targets Czech Finance Minister Andrej Babis, who is also the leader of a political movement ANO, owner of some leading media outlets and the second wealthiest person in the country, according to the Czech media reports.

“Mister President imposed a veto on Lex Babis, the draft bill on the conflict of interests. The bill is inconsistent with the constitutional norms of the Czech Republic,” Ovcacek posted on his official Twitter account.

Lex Babis prohibits government members from controlling media, while firms where they own more than 25 percent are supposed to lose access to investment aid, European or state subsidies and public contracts, according to the country’s media reports.

The majority of Czech lawmakers approved the bill in September. Now it will be returned to the country’s lower house for reconsideration. The parliament needs at least 101 votes to overcome the presidential veto.

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media, Milos Zeman, Czech Republic

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