Senators propose constitutional amendment to give SAO the right to audit television and radio

A constitutional amendment submitted this week by senators from all factions aims to expand the authority of the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) to audit the finances of public television and radio. The Senate may discuss the proposal in two weeks, simultaneously with the amendment on increasing fees for Czech Television and Czech Radio.

The amendment, signed by thirty-seven senators, almost half of the members of the upper chamber of parliament, is to entrust the SAO with ”auditing the finances of legal entities established by law that provide a public service in the field of television and radio broadcasting”. The upper chamber of the Czech parliament will decide whether the fee for Czech Television will be increased by fifteen crowns to 150 crowns per month and for Czech Radio by ten crowns to 55 crowns per month. The amendment also includes expanding the circle of taxpayers to households whose residents use a smartphone or have an internet connection.