The Ministry of Digital Transformation is giving due consideration to all findings and recommendations from the State Audit Office, which we regard as an important tool for improving institutional operations, financial discipline, and transparency.
Most of the identified issues are issues inherited from the former Ministry of Information Society and Administration (MISA), which have accumulated over the years, with some persisting for more than a decade. The new Ministry of Digital Transformation, established in 2024, inherited incomplete records, unresolved property-legal issues, court proceedings, and administrative shortcomings that had not been adequately addressed previously.
It is particularly important to emphasise that no comprehensive or substantive inventory of assets has been conducted over the past ten years, leading to serious discrepancies between the actual state of assets, accounting records, and available documentation. The mentioned properties, with a book value of one denar, are precisely an example of such inherited and disordered records, rather than an indicator of their true market value.
The Ministry has already undertaken activities to clarify the property situation, align the records, secure the necessary documentation, and establish order in the management of state property. Some of the identified issues have already been resolved, while specific corrective measures are being implemented for the others.
Additionally, the Ministry has inherited several legal proceedings stemming from decisions and obligations incurred in previous years. These cases are being examined individually, in collaboration with the relevant institutions, with the aim of resolving them in accordance with the law and minimizing any financial impact on the state budget. These are legal and financial obligations that do not vanish with a change in leadership but must be addressed responsibly.
Regarding the findings concerning public procurement, financial records, and internal controls, the Ministry has already informed the State Audit Office (SAO) that the matters in question relate to payments for services procured by other institutions—services from which the Ministry itself benefits (such as facility cleaning and security, official travel, and telecommunications).
We are also aware of the challenges posed by staff shortages, which are further complicated by the salary gap between the public and private IT sectors. Strengthening administrative and professional capacity remains one of the priorities of the Ministry.
Our approach is not to conceal problems or leave them for a future leadership to address. On the contrary, we are determined to resolve the institutional legacy, regardless of how long these issues have been neglected.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation remains fully open to cooperation with the State Audit Office and to the implementation of its recommendations.
It is our duty, alongside the development of new digital services and the modernization of the state, to build an institution characterized by proper record-keeping, lawful operations, and the responsible management of public funds.