Babiš did not rule out the sale of the Ministry of the Environment headquarters, the palaces are to remain with the state

Prague - Among the buildings that Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) is considering selling in connection with the plan to relocate some offices to a new government district in Prague's Letňany is the seat of the Ministry of the Environment in Eden. Babiš stated this to reporters before his Wednesday meeting with Mayor Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), who disagrees with the plan to consolidate state officials in one location. The Prime Minister emphasized that the state will not sell historical buildings. He cited the Nostický Palace, which currently houses the Ministry of Culture, as an example. According to the Prime Minister, the historic bedroom where Minister of Culture Antonín Staněk (ČSSD) has his office should be made accessible to the public.

"We certainly will not sell historical buildings, but some ministries like the Ministry of the Environment, which is located on Kodaňská," Babiš stated in response to a CTK inquiry regarding the potential sale of the buildings. He referred to the Ministry's seat in Eden as a "kind of panel house", later not ruling out that apartments could be created there. On the contrary, he reiterated that historical buildings should serve the public as museums and galleries.

According to Staněk, Babiš's plan is not unreasonable. However, the buildings following the relocation of ministries from the center should remain under state control, in his opinion. Babiš has been discussing the possibility of building an "administrative town" in Letňany for some time. He believes it would be economically advantageous compared to the current situation, where ministries are located in various palaces in the city center and rent additional spaces.

The plots in Letňany that the state is reportedly interested in cover a total area of 354,000 square meters. In November, the Prime Minister stated that the Letňany complex could house more than 10,000 employees and that construction would cost ten billion crowns.

"I believe that the Prime Minister's plan to create an administrative quarter is not completely unreasonable. I think it would make sense. As for the palaces where, for example, ministerial buildings are located—not only the Ministry for Regional Development, but also the Ministry of Culture—if these palaces were opened up as galleries and museums, I believe it would be beneficial for the public," said the Minister of Culture shortly before the government meeting today. When asked by CTK whether ministerial buildings should remain state property after the relocation of ministries from the center, Staněk replied: "Absolutely."

The news website E15, on the other hand, reported today that the Prague palaces housing selected ministries could be sold to private individuals. According to the site, the property office has already selected the first buildings that the state administration might vacate. According to E15, Babiš stated that the ten-billion crown investment should pay off within five years thanks to the sale of real estate and saved costs, without specifying which buildings this would involve. He emphasized that the property office is working on various options, each of which should meet the expected return on investment, the E15 website quoted the Prime Minister.