Prague, Jan 9 (CTK) – The new version of the policy statement of the Czech minority government of Andrej Babis (ANO) does not include particular anti-corruption measures that were part of the original version, the Pirates said in a press release issued on Tuesday.
The Czech state will not become more transparent due to this, they said.
“Firms drawing public finances are not required to reveal their owners,” Pirate leader Ivan Bartos said.
Bartos said the demand for transparency of public tenders is expressed only vaguely, rules for the nominations of board members of state-run firms are not mentioned, and state attorney’s offices will not be made more independent, but their independence will be newly defined, which is unclear.
“Everybody who takes fighting corruption seriously knows well why one must be specific and not let relativise the necessary measures,” Pirate lower house group’s head Jakub Michalek said.
Bartos criticised the policy statement for not naming the state-controlled firms that would have to release their contracts in the central online register.
The original version of the policy statement mentioned the CEZ power utility and the Ceska posta postal services company.
The Pirates worked out their own draft amendment to the law on the register of contracts.
After meeting ANO representatives before Christmas, the Pirates said the two parties reached agreement on the changes promoted by Pirate MPs.
Babis’ one-coloured government comprising ANO ministers and unaffiliated experts will ask the lower house of parliament for its confidence on Wednesday. All parties in parliament except for the Communists (KSCM) said they would not support Babis’s government. The KSCM is to announce its decision later on Tuesday.
The Pirates do not want to be part of the government and they plan to be a constructive opposition party in this election period.
