Prague - After one year in office, the ruling coalition has prepared what can be justifiably described as an earthquake in the field of Czech intelligence agencies.
The reform, biggest since the communist regime was toppled in the former Czechoslovakia, is to reduce the number of agencies from four to two: counter-intelligence and intelligence.
Currently, the four agencies are divided into two separate entities - military and civilian. Next year, these two will merge.
The bill is already prepared and expected to come into force in January 2009. Although the details are still secret, Aktualne.cz has learned of some basic elements of the shake-up.
All set and ready to go
"Everything is prepared and we expect the bill to come into force in January next year," said a state employee who is well informed of the reform preparation to Aktualne.cz.
"The bill was already discussed by the Intelligence Service Committee. It is to be be presented to the State Security Council and only then the government will decide on its final form, " says the government´s spokesperson Jana Bartošová.
In a break with the current practice, the two agencies will report solely to the government. Presently, civilian intelligence and counter-intelligence fall under the Ministry of Interior, their army counterparts under the Ministry of Defense.
Placating the opposition
The bill will most likely be approved, since the current plan is in line with suggestions raised by the opposition Social Democratic Party (ČSSD) two years ago.
Above all, ČSSD was opposed to the idea of merging intelligence with counter-intelligence, pointing out rather problematic relations between the two branches. Now, when they are to remain separated, Social Democrats in principle agree with the reform.
However, before giving the reform green light, ČSSD needs to know details about the course of the planned transformation, said Jeroným Týc, an intelligence expert of ČSSD.
