Babiš accuses judges of a 'mafia' after court criticism, union rebukes him
Prime Minister Andrej Babiš claimed judges act like a mafia at a rally in Havířov, prompting the judges' union to denounce his remarks as unfounded and damaging to judicial independence.
At a campaign rally in Havířov, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš alleged that some judges function as a mafia, deciding cases without proof and on command. The judges' union condemned the claim, saying it undermines confidence in an independent court system and that anyone may critique judicial rulings, particularly those personally affected by criminal cases. The union highlighted Babiš's own indictment in the Čapí hnízdo subsidy fraud case, noting his remarks target a judge who ruled like a prosecutor.
It reminded that the premier bears a heightened duty to speak responsibly about the judiciary, a cornerstone of the democratic state. The exchange followed a video posted on X by podcast host Petros Michopulos, which Novinky.cz flagged. Babiš also referenced past statements by Miloš Zeman and argued that parliamentary immunity should be limited to speeches made in the Chamber of Deputies.
Why it matters
The clash raises concerns about political attacks on judicial independence and the credibility of the legal system.
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