President of the Czech Republic supports the extension of the SAO’s powers

PRESS RELEASE – April 13, 2016

On April 12, 2016, President of the Supreme Audit Office Mr. Miloslav Kala came to the Prague Castle to submit the SAO’s Annual Report for the year 2015 to President of the Czech Republic Mr. Miloš Zeman. The Annual Report summarizes results of the previous year’s audit operations and other activities of the SAO. On the agenda of the meeting at the Prague Castle were also issues related to the planned extension of the SAO’s powers that would make it possible for the SAO to carry out audits of local governments as well as at companies partly owned by the State. President Zeman promised to use his personal influence to promote support to the idea of extension of the SAO’s powers.

During one-hour meeting, both constitutional representatives discussed the most problematic issues related to management with public funds. “I have informed President Zeman about latest trends in mismanagement of public funds. For example, we talked about procurements and the operation of informational and communication technologies, ways to collect taxes effectively, and the successful beginning of new programming period for absorption of EU funds“, said President of the SAO Miloslav Kala.

The second topic on the meeting’s agenda were issues related to the planned extension of the SAO’s powers, which President Zeman finds as a very significant shift towards better auditing of public funds’ management. “President Zeman does not wish for a repetition of the last attempt to extend the SAO’s powers, during which most representatives in the Upper House of the Czech Parliament (i. e. the Senate) voted against the proposal“, said President of the SAO Miloslav Kala. The planned amendment to the Act on the SAO, which will regulate the new powers of the SAO, is about to be subject to third reading agreement by the Chamber of Deputies and after that it will be read in the Senate. The Senate also has not modified the Constitution, which should precede the extension of the SAO’s powers.

Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office

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