At its last meeting on 29 May, the Government passed one of the most crucial Acts that was declared in the governmental program. The Act on Public Prosecutor introduces a few changes in the current system of public prosecution. Firstly, the hierarchical system of the prosecution should be change as the high prosecution (Praha, Olomouc) should be abolished. Instead of that, the specialized Office on Corruption Struggle should be set up. The so-called “anti-corruption” Office should become a part of the Supreme Public Prosecution Office. One of the aims of such changes is to guarantee the independence of public prosecution on politicians. Secondly, the Bill introduces much stricter and independent process of prosecutors' appointment. The prosecutors should be appointed after successful open competition. Besides that, the prosecutors could be removed from office only through disciplinary proceedings in front of the Supreme Administrative Court. The Bill also stipulates the career code for the prosecutors. The Bill also stipulates the setting up of the Public Prosecutions Council as an advise body that consists of prosecutors that are directly elected by all prosecutors.

The Bill is heading to the Chamber of Deputies. The Chamber of Deputies should discuss the Bill at its next session on 12 June.

For further information, click here (explanatory report).

Despite the passing of the Act on Public Prosecution, the Government postponed the discussion of the Act on Civil Service (public officials) for two weeks. The Bill should stipulate the process of appointing of qualified and professional officials in the civil service. The officials should be employed under stricter rules that would prevent them from political influence. The Bill should replace the current Act on Civil Service that had been passed in 2002, however, important provisions, regulating the system of civil service and officials' appointing and independence, have not come into force yet. NGOs criticizes the Bill as being ineffective (for critical discussion of the Act, click here). The EU has announced that the Act coming into force is a condition for the Czech Republic to withdraw money during the next budget period from 2014–2020.

For further information, click here (explanatory report).