Early Life and Education
Andrej Babiš was born on September 2, 1954, in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). His father was a diplomat, which led to Babiš spending parts of his childhood in various countries, including France and Switzerland. He studied at the University of Economics in Bratislava, where he focused on international trade, graduating in 1978. Babiš later moved to the Czech Republic in the early 1990s after the Velvet Revolution.
Rise to Success
Babiš's business career began after his graduation in 1978 when he joined the Slovak state-controlled international trading company Chemapol Bratislava, later known as Petrimex. In 1993, he founded Agrofert, a company that he gradually developed into one of the largest conglomerates in the Czech Republic. Agrofert expanded from a wholesale and trading firm into various agricultural, food processing, and chemical companies. Babiš served as the CEO of Agrofert until January 2014.
Key Business Strategies
Babiš's strategy involved significant acquisitions and diversification across multiple sectors, including agriculture, food processing, chemicals, construction, and media. This diversified approach contributed to Agrofert's growth and dominance in the Czech market. He also acquired media companies, making him one of the most influential politicians. He had to transfer his assets to trust funds to comply with conflict-of-interest laws.
Political Career and Recent Developments
Babiš entered politics in 2011, founding the ANO 2011 party. He served as the Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister from 2014 to 2017. He was elected Prime Minister in December 2017. He served a second term as Prime Minister since December 2025. His political career has been marked by achievements and controversies. He has implemented policies focusing on raising the retirement age and reducing pensions, while increasing child tax credits and the salaries of senior politicians.
