Dostálová: A decision about the head of the new Supreme Building Authority will be made by the end of the year

Prague – The head of the new Supreme Construction Authority should be known by the end of the year, according to Minister for Regional Development Klara Dostalova (for ANO). Members of the coalition that is to form the next government will also be invited to the selection committee, she said. Given that the future government has announced operating in budgetary provisional mode, the selection is not urgent according to Dostalova. The office will not be able to operate independently but only as an organizational unit of the Ministry for Regional Development (MMR). Dostalova disagrees with the postponement of the effectiveness of the new construction law. However, if the forming government insists on changes, it will create a situation where two laws will operate in the field of construction law at the same time. Dostalova stated this today in the Czech Television program Questions of Václav Moravec.

According to Dostalova, five candidates registered for the first round for the position of head of the Supreme Construction Authority; four did not meet the requirements of the civil service law. While only civil servants in management positions with long-term experience could apply for the first round, the second round is open to "outsiders," she stated. In the case of the new selection process, the winner of the elections will have two representatives on the selection committee, according to Dostalova.

However, according to Dostalova, the activities of the Supreme Construction Authority, which is to be based in Ostrava and have 400 employees, are tied to the approved budget. Until that happens, the authority will be an organizational unit of the MMR. "Which paradoxically brings certain advantages, as the Supreme Construction Authority will have the expert support of the ministry," she said.

The incoming coalition government initially wanted to postpone the effectiveness of the entire new construction law. However, according to the Deputy Chairman of the movement of Mayors and Independents (STAN) Stanislav Polčák, it is not possible to achieve this by December 31 in order to avoid even greater chaos under the current situation. Part of the new legislation is expected to come into force as early as January. Thus, the ANO movement would also have to vote for the postponement, but according to him, they will veto the proposal.

Dostalova praised that the forming government wants to maintain the approved legislation for reserved constructions, namely that the Supreme Construction Authority and the Special Construction Authority will be established. However, there is no consensus between the outgoing and the next government regarding the construction authorities, which should only operate at the regional level, with some of them completely disappearing. The coalition thus strives to delay the effectiveness of at least this part of the legislation. Dostalova and Polčák agreed that if no agreement is reached on this issue, a "hybrid" will emerge from the construction law.

The Chamber of Deputies approved the new construction law in July, and it is expected to come into full effect on July 1, 2023.