Fiala will propose to the president the dismissal of Bartoš from the position of Minister for Regional Development

Prague – Prime Minister Petr Fiala will propose to President Petr Pavel on September 30th the dismissal of Ivan Bartoš (Pirates) from the position of Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and Minister for Regional Development. He explained his decision by stating that Bartoš is incapable of successfully managing the digitalization of the construction process. Starting Wednesday, digitalization will be overseen by a team led by Minister of Transport Martin Kupka (ODS).

According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport, František Jemelka, Kupka is already intensively addressing the newly assigned task, although he is currently on a business trip abroad. Digitalization of the construction process is, according to Jemelka, also important for the Ministry of Transport and the Transport and Energy Construction Authority (DESÚ), which also approves larger transportation projects. "We will inform you about when and how the minister will comment on the topic as soon as it is possible," he added.

Fiala stated that he is satisfied with the work of other Pirate ministers and does not consider his decision as a termination of the coalition agreement. He is asking the Pirates to present a candidate for the new Minister of Regional Development who is capable of managing the role. He informed coalition partners and President Petr Pavel in advance of his decision, which he definitively reached after today's morning meeting with Bartoš.

Fiala indicated that he personally values Bartoš and has always been able to rely on him. "I do not make this decision lightly, but digitalization is a key project for the modernization of the Czech state, and we cannot afford any further delays," he stated. As the person responsible for fulfilling the program statement and the functioning of the government, he sees no other solution than to replace the minister.

After the previous government meeting where digitalization was discussed, and following today's meeting with Bartoš, Fiala became convinced that Bartoš is unable to bring digitalization to completion. "I don't think he even realizes the real state of the digitalization process for construction," Fiala believes. The Prime Minister added that he has repeatedly given Bartoš time to resolve the situation, but a successful conclusion is nowhere in sight.