“Keeping a promise is, for me, a matter of honor and principle. I apply this approach to all aspects of my life, whether personal or professional,” says Barbora Fojtáchová, an independent candidate who unsuccessfully ran in the Senate election on the PRO movement‘s ticket.
Why did you choose the PRO movement, and what was your agenda in the election?
Although I wasn‘t and am not a party member, in recent years I have collaborated with the PRO movement as a member of its economic program team. I used my many years of experience in public administration to contribute to creating a reform program for public administration, focusing on analyzing legislative processes, identifying inefficiencies, and developing proposals to enhance the effectiveness of public administration. I have spent my entire life in the region between Uherský Brod and Zlín. I live and work here, and it is a very important place for me. When the offer came to run for the Senate representing this region, I couldn‘t refuse. I aspired to become a senator to bring a pragmatic perspective to legislative processes, drawing on my professional expertise in building permits and urban planning.
Was it a big disappointment when you didn‘t succeed?
I would probably be lying if I said I wasn‘t disappointed. But I accepted it with pragmatic detachment. The competition was strong, and I was a complete political novice. However, despite not succeeding, I must say I am grateful for the experience.
How do you assist citizens in your role as head of the building authority in Uherský Brod?
I strive to make public administration more accessible and friendly to people. My goal is to always utilize the simplest procedures during the approval process, naturally in compliance with applicable legislation. I aim to create an environment where citizens feel that the building authority is not just an institution they have to involve in their planned construction projects, but also a partner that can address their requirements efficiently and comprehensively without causing an unnecessary burden. Occasionally, I also lecture on building law and urban planning to final-year students at the Secondary Technical School and Business Academy in Uherský Brod. It‘s useful for the younger generation to understand the principles of urban planning during their studies. These skills can benefit their future careers or even enable them to actively participate in shaping the future of their towns.
What do you think about the failed digitalization of the construction permitting process?
The digitalization of public administration is absolutely necessary and inevitable. Utilizing modern technologies allows citizens to handle their matters online, aligning with current trends and advancing public administration toward greater efficiency and accessibility for all citizens. Therefore, the effort to create a digital construction permitting process was undoubtedly the right step. However, it was crucial at its launch to ensure that all processes were functional, officials thoroughly trained, and the system tested. None of this happened, and the Ministry of Regional Development failed in this regard. The atmosphere in building authorities is currently very tense. Officials see that under the current circumstances – caused by the failed digitalization, the new construction act (which increased the scope of responsibilities for municipal building authorities), and insufficient staffing – they are unable to process all submitted applications within acceptable timeframes. Statutory deadlines are simply unachievable. This reality also fuels concerns about the increasing aggression of investors, planners, and developers who are anxiously waiting for permits. I think I have never felt such a sense of frustration in my professional life, as I am unable to speed up processes mandated by what I consider to be a completely failed new construction act.
With her children Veronika, Viktor, and Anežka.
What are the main problems with this act?
From the beginning, the new construction act was presented as bringing several key changes aimed
at simplifying and accelerating the permitting process. Simplification through the “Builder‘s Portal” (digital permitting) did not occur. The digital permitting system will be postponed as per the planned amendment to the construction act. Another frequently touted change was the shortening of deadlines. However, the deadlines for issuing permits remain exactly the same as in the act valid until June 30, 2024 – 30 days for simple projects and 60 days for complex ones. It is still the case that documentation submitted to the building authority must be complete. If it is not, the authority pauses the proceedings, waits for the builder to provide the necessary documentation, and the timelines are halted.
When traveling through Czechia, you see construction everywhere. Housing estates are becoming denser, and apartment buildings are rising on the outskirts of towns and villages. Yet, there is still talk of a housing shortage. How is that possible?
Yes, even with visible construction activity, the problem of housing shortages persists. This is an ongoing issue debated across the political spectrum. Insu????cient supply can be caused by many factors. One of them
is the current trend of young people leaving their family homes and living with parents much earlier than previous generations. The younger generation often prefers living in cities over villages, whether due to job opportunities, wider availability of cultural and social activities, or better access to services that enhance their quality of life. However, this also drives up property prices. Rising property prices and mortgage rates make owning a home practically unattainable for the younger generation. At the same time, there is an opportunity for investors, whose acquired properties remain unoccupied or are used for rental purposes. According to the latest census analysis, nearly 900,000 apartments in the Czech Republic are unoccupied. However, even fully utilizing these apartments would not resolve the current situation. Solving affordable housing requires a comprehensive reform of government housing policies.
TRAVEL AND CONSTRUCTION
Barbora loves traveling, discovering new places, and comparing construction standards and approaches in different countries. „I‘m amazed by how design, materials, and construction techniques vary across the world,“ she confirms. „I can spend hours walking through cities, comparing the local architecture to ours. I‘m fascinated by skyscrapers in world metropolises, not only for their uniqueness but especially for the construction techniques. On the other hand, I admire the style of houses in England, with their typical brick facades, Victorian details, and charming gardens..“
CV BOX
Barbora Fojtáchová (born March 6, 1973, in Uherské Hradiště) is the head of the Building Authority Department in Uherský Brod. This year, she ran for the Senate as a candidate for the PRO movement but was not elected.
In 2009, she started as a clerk at the Department of Building Administration at the Zlín City Hall and began studying Applied Economics Education, completing it with a state exam. She then earned a degree in Economic Policy and Public Administration, specializing in Public Administration and Regional Development, at the Czech University of Life Sciences.
After her studies, she worked, among other roles, at the Regional Development Department of the Chief Architect‘s Office at the District Office in Uherské Hradiště, the State Land Reclamation Administration, and the private company Sodexo. She later ventured into business in purchasing and sales.
She is married and has two daughters and a son with her husband, Rostislav.
She lives in a small village in the Zlín region, where she participates in various community activities with other active women, including knitting, crocheting, and baking pastries for the charity event „Baking for UNICEF.“ She also helps organize traditional village events.
