Petr Dlouhý is Director General of the State Agricultural Intervention Fund (SZIF). He took over as head of the fund in December 2022, succeeding Martin Šebestyán, who is now Minister of Agriculture.[1] According to the Forum 24 website, he worked at the fund for more than fourteen years. [4]
According to the fund's statement, during his time in office he contributed to the development and modernisation of SZIF. His steps include introducing the AMS system, which uses satellite data to check agricultural land when subsidies are allocated, making services for clients more efficient and strengthening communication with the farming public.[2]
On 20 October 2026 the fund announced that Dlouhý would leave the post at the end of October. Until a new director is chosen, the fund will be led by his current deputy Filip Sova. A selection procedure to fill the post will be announced after Dlouhý's departure.[1][2] According to his statement, he is leaving for personal reasons, and he said the decision is not the result of political pressure or other circumstances. [3]
After Andrej Babiš was appointed prime minister, the fund suspended payment of subsidies to companies of the Agrofert holding, and at the end of April 2026, on the basis of independent analyses, it began allocating them again. [3]
Sources
- Novinky.cz — 20 October 2026
- iDNES.cz — 20 October 2026
- Hospodářské noviny — 20 October 2026
- FORUM 24 — 20 October 2026