The intrigue in Czech politics is so dense that only a handful of people are fully informed about many of the things that transpire. Everyone else is left to speculate and to rely on "reliable" sources who are often just spreading an agreed-upon story. Dir. Michal Koudelka of the BIS counterintelligence agency could have gone to PM Andrej Babiš and warned him against reappointing Petr Mlsna to head the ÚOHS antitrust office, but a hardball tactic was chosen instead, and Koudelka saw to it that Mlsna's security clearance was revoked. Maybe Babiš wanted it done this way, maybe he didn't. Only a handful of people really know, and they aren't talking. Outwardly, though, it appears that it was done this way in order to boost the authority of the president. Just as in the case of the army chief of staff, the head of the competition office is appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the cabinet. Mlsna's public shaming has suddenly made it easier for Petr Pavel to put his foot down if the name of new candidate doesn't suit the consultants, billionaires and philanthropists who whisper in his ear. And it's now up to Babiš to decide just how much of the cabinet's authority he wants to hand over.
FinalWord.by Erik Bestfinalword.cz |
 Source: Prague Castle More power for the presidentToday, Nov 12, 2026 The intrigue in Czech politics is so dense that only a handful of people are fully informed about many of the things that transpire. Everyone else is left to speculate and to rely on "reliable" sources who are often just spreading an agreed-upon story. Dir. Michal Koudelka of the BIS counterintelligence agency could have gone to PM Andrej Babiš and warned him against reappointing Petr Mlsna to head the ÚOHS antitrust office, but a hardball tactic was chosen instead, and Koudelka saw to it that Mlsna's security clearance was revoked. Maybe Babiš wanted it done this way, maybe he didn't. Only a handful of people really know, and they aren't talking. Outwardly, though, it appears that it was done this way in order to boost the authority of the president. Just as in the case of the army chief of staff, the head of the competition office is appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the cabinet. Mlsna's public shaming has suddenly made it easier for Petr Pavel to put his foot down if the name of new candidate doesn't suit the consultants, billionaires and philanthropists who whisper in his ear. And it's now up to Babiš to decide just how much of the cabinet's authority he wants to hand over. |
