MPs elect audit office deputy head candidate for its head

Prague, March 19 (CTK) - The Czech Chamber of Deputies Tuesday elected by secret ballot Miloslav Kala, Supreme Audit Office (NKU) vice-president, candidate for the office's head who is to be appointed by President Milos Zeman.

Kala, 49, was supported by 108 deputies in the 200-seat lower house of parliament.

Kala is a member of the senior opposition Social Democrats (CSSD). His appointment will vacate the post of NKU vice-president that should be filled by Zdenka Hornikova, a lawmaker for the senior government Civic Democrats (ODS), acording to alleged backstage deals.

Petr Gazdik, chairman of the TOP 09 and Mayors deputy group, said the ODS, in agreement with Communists (KSCM) have preferred the election of the former CSSD MP in order to "secure a luxury post for another ODS MP."

"We take into consideration the legitimate election, but we are convinced that this base party deal from the time of the opposition agreement will lower the weight of both the NKU and the Chamber of Deputies," Gazdik said.

The opposition agreement from 1998 allowed then CSSD chairman Milos Zeman's minority government to rule with support of the ODS, then headed by Vaclav Klaus, in exchange for a portion of power. Many say the extensive corruption that still haunts the country originated during the existence of the opposition agreement in 1998-2002.

Kala has headed the NKU since February 2012, when Frantisek Dohnal had to leave the post over a valid suspended sentence for his refusal to hand to the lower house's control body documents that would allow an audit of the NKU's financial management to be carried out.

Kala became NKU vice-president in 2008. From 2002 he was a lawmaker for the CSSD that proposed him for the NKU top post now.

The other candidate, Miloslav Vanek, director of the Office for Government Representation in Property Affairs, proposed by TOP 09 did not win enough votes.