Future of counterintelligence chief Koudelka may be discussed by PM and President this Monday

Czech President Miloš Zeman and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš are set to meet on Monday evening at the president’s Lány residency. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Mr Babiš did not deny that the question of who will lead the Czech civilian counterintelligence service – BIS – may be discussed as well.

The current director of BIS Michal Koudelka’s mandate is set to run out in mid-August. Mr Koudelka’s continuation in office is supported both by the prime minister’s own ANO party as well as by the leading opposition coalitions in Parliament. However, President Zeman is known for being a long-term critic of BIS’ work and has refused to promote Koudelka to the rank of general, as is customary for the position, several times.

Michal Koudelka has led the Czech civilian counterintelligence service since 2015. In 2019 he received the George Tenet award at the CIA headquarters in Langley.