New transport minister to examine non-transparent contracts and tenders

Vít Barta, the new minister of transport, has said that he is planning to examine all of his ministry’s contracts and tenders, some of which he considers outrageously wasteful. At a press conference on Monday, Mr Barta said that the ministry’s contract with the company Kapsch was particularly suspicious. The firm won a 22- billion-crown tender to build the country’s toll system years ago, but is still receiving money from the ministry thanks to certain clauses in the contract. Mr Barta has also put on hold any new public tenders, with the exception of two: the purchase of salt and vehicles needed for winter road maintenance.