Fiala: The analysis of digitization was devastating, it did not arise from any assignment

Prague – The analysis of the digitization of the building permit process, which the government heard a week ago, was devastating. After the government meeting, Prime Minister Petr Fiala told reporters today. It was not created on any commission; it was developed by experts, he stated. Deputy Prime Minister for Digitization and Minister for Regional Development Ivan Bartoš (Pirates), whose dismissal Fiala decided to propose, hinted today that the analysis might have been created with the intention of justifying his end in the cabinet.

According to the analysis, a digitalized building permit system could be in an acceptable state for the government in approximately 12 to 18 months, after involving about 50 people and increasing the budget for its development by 200 to 300 million crowns. The document was prepared by a team from several ministries. Bartoš described the analysis as hastily thrown-together points, claiming that some things in it were out of line. He suggested that the analysis might have been created with the intention of justifying his dismissal.

"This is not an analysis, but a few hastily put together points in a PowerPoint presentation presented by a subordinate of Minister Jurečka from Together. The document got into journalists' hands lightning fast, so it is worth asking whether they had already prepared it knowing that it would subsequently serve as justification for my 'departure' from the government," Bartoš wrote on the X network.

Fiala stated today that the government had already received information from practitioners before the system was launched, expressing concerns about whether the building permit process would function properly. He reminded that Bartoš was given several deadlines to resolve the issues. On Tuesday, he requested a crisis management plan from him; however, he did not receive it, which is why he decided to propose the minister's dismissal to President Petr Pavel, he said.

"Meanwhile, a team of experts working on digitization in other parts of the public administration looked at how the system is set up, prepared, and what could be done about it. We heard this analysis last Wednesday at the government meeting. The analysis was devastating," said the Prime Minister. "And this is not based on any commission. These are people who are dedicated to this, who understand it, and are trying to ensure that the system really works," he added.

Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura (ODS) also denied that the analysis was created on political commission. "I confirm the authenticity of the material; it is the one we discussed at the government," he stated. The head of the state treasury said he did not know of any expert who would refute its conclusions. According to him, the ministers asked the basic question in the cabinet meeting about when the system would function, but did not receive an answer.

"Let's not look for any political calculation behind this," said Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL). He claimed that the experts or lawyers participated in the government meeting last week, presenting understandable data. According to Výborný, ministers received only a general lecture from Bartoš about what digitization is. "If we set another deadline for the end of October now, the situation will not be better, but the same or even worse," he added.