William Julié recently explained to iROZHLAS the impact of the personal immunity enjoyed by Andrej Babiš, the new Czech Prime Minister, before French courts, in the context of the investigation currently being conducted by the French National Financial Prosecutor’s Office into the acquisition of real estate by the latter in the South of France.
He pointed out that, as Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Andrej Babiš enjoys personal immunity under French law, a status that protects him from any criminal prosecution in France for the duration of his term of office.
William Julié pointed out that personal immunity is granted to heads of government, heads of state and foreign ministers. He specified that this immunity is absolute for the duration of the term of office: as long as Andrej Babiš holds the position of Prime Minister, the French judicial authorities cannot prosecute or try him.
He specified that this does not mean impunity or the extinction of his criminal liability: the proceedings may resume once Andrej Babiš has left office.