<Hřib> urged <Babiš> not to block the exchange of property with <Prague>

Prague - The Mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib (Pirates), called on Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) in a letter to instruct the Office for the Representation of the State in Property Affairs (ÚZSVM) to proceed with property exchanges between the state and the capital city that had been previously agreed upon. Hřib writes in the letter that Babiš halted these prepared transactions due to the land in Letňany, where the Prime Minister wants to build a complex for officials, and he has been unable to reach an agreement with the city. ČTK has the letter at its disposal. Babiš requests that the mayor respond to his letters concerning the government quarter.

Hřib is concerned with the agreed exchanges of school and sports facilities for fire stations, police stations, and other properties owned by the city. According to the mayor, the city prepared these in June 2016, but they were "systematically halted due to Letňany" at the Prime Minister's order. "I therefore propose that you instruct the director of ÚZSVM, Kateřina Arajmu, to initiate the long-prepared property exchanges so that we can mutually find property that can be exchanged and help both parties in solving their strategic goals," the mayor urged Babiš.

The Prime Minister previously stated that he does not block the exchanges. "The mayor has received several letters from me since July, so he should bother to respond to them," Babiš wrote today in a text message to ČTK in response to a request for a statement regarding Hřib's appeal. The city leadership is willing to release land for the government quarter in Letňany under the condition that the state completes the outer Prague highway ring, contributes to the inner ring, and builds a hospital. In July, Babiš wrote to Hřib that the state plans to finance the construction of the outer ring, offers the form of a public-private partnership (PPP) for the inner ring, and prefers a trauma center instead of a hospital.

The mayor also stated in the letter that in case of further delays, the appraisals of the properties would expire, which would prolong the entire process by several dozen months to years. According to him, ÚZSVM is also violating the Civil Code in this regard. The mayor added that members of the government and the Prague council should meet for constructive talks instead of exchanging letters.

Hřib also wrote that the city would welcome it if ÚZSVM exchanged or sold it land from the gardening colony Na Balkáně so that the city could ensure its preservation. The city leadership is also not opposed to the free takeover of the dilapidated Karlin barracks and would like to negotiate about other empty buildings owned by the state, the mayor added.

Babiš would like to acquire land from the city in Letňany, where he intends to build a complex for thousands of state officials. He has long been unable to reach an agreement on the plan with the Prague leadership; Hřib has repeatedly stated that he does not want an "official ghetto" in Letňany and that he demands the fulfillment of several conditions before further negotiations. In addition to the unblocking of property changes mentioned above, these conditions include the completion of the outer ring, a state contribution of 60 billion crowns for the construction of the inner ring, and the construction of a new hospital in Letňany.