Pilsen Region: Opposition Questions NCOZ Intervention

The chairman of the regional club ODS and TOP 09 Lukáš Hegner criticized the current coalition for not answering the questions sent in the open letter. “Not only the public, but also we representatives have an absolute minimum of information about the entire project, even in connection with the disturbing news about the intervention of the NCOZ,” he pointed out.

The September raid was related to the transformation of the former city spa into a multi-functional facility for two billion, which is in charge of the Cultural Center of the Pilsen Region (KCPK). It is a business company founded and 100% owned by the Governorship.

Criminal police detained nine people. They and also two companies were subsequently accused of subsidy fraud and influencing public contracts. Among those prosecuted are the former mayor of Domažlice, Miroslav Mach, who has been the head of the KCPK since April. He strongly denies his guilt. However, the regional councilors dismissed him in November.

According to Novinek’s findings, his predecessor, the architect Hynek Gloser, is another accused. Architect Eva Heyworth, author of the study on the transformation of the city spa, also left the company. “How will her departure affect the entire project? Who will replace her?” Hegner asked.

Councilor for Culture and Chairman of the KCPK Supervisory Board Libor Picka (STAN) initially referred to the message that the leadership had already sent to the opposition. And he called for further questions to be delivered again in writing. “That is a great degree of arrogance,” responded opposition representative Lucie Kužílková (ODS), according to which the coalition is deliberately refusing to provide information.

She also mentioned that the new CEO of KCPK, Daniel Janda, until recently worked in a law firm that provided services to this business company. “There is a question as to whether there is a conflict of interest,” continued Kužílková.

She also touched on the fact that Picka is now in charge of the spa, not the deputy for investments Martin Záhoř (ANO). Picka defended himself: “The responsibility is not yours, but mine. Not only financial… I am convinced that all the steps we have taken are correct.”

According to the opposition representative Michal Vozobule (TOP 09), the coalition behaves like an elephant in a porcelain vase. “You promise us a selection process for a new executive, and the council appointed him without a selection process,” he pointed out.

Picka once again assured that he is not hiding anything and answers all the questions of the regional management. “I am trying to bring the project to a successful conclusion. And believe me, we will succeed,” he added.

Záhoř subsequently justified the change of gesture. On Monday, he resigned from the post of deputy, as he recently became a member of parliament and still works as the mayor of Stříbr. “Colleague Picka was present at a lot of decision-making processes and was the most familiar with them,” he added.

He said that the implementation documentation of the project is currently being prepared. And the council is currently trying to find replacements for the experts who have left. Hejtman Kamal Farhan (ANO) then suggested that the KCPK supervisory board could be expanded to include opposition representatives, which was met with positive response.