On the occasion of his working visit to Warsaw, Kurt Grüter gave an interview in the NIK Headquarters. He said about what the Swiss Federal Audit Office can and cannot do, what is most difficult to Swiss auditors, and also how European Supreme Audit Institutions can help in the fight against economic crisis.
Swiss Federal Audit Office
Kurt Grüter is one of the eldest (in terms of the length of service) and the most experienced Heads of SAIs. The specific nature of the institution under his supervision is related to the federal system of Switzerland. When asked about the most difficult tasks his auditors are facing, he mentions mainly the tax system audits. - We have as many as 27 regional tax laws, however income tax is regulated at the federal level. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is collected by individual cantons. Auditing the whole system is a huge challenge.
Kurt Grüter admits with pride that Swiss people help him do his job, since they observe the law and diligently pay taxes. -We talk about a country with direct democracy, where the SAI is a fully independent institution and the government does not influence the work of auditors in any way. So what should I want more? - asks the Head of the Swiss Federal Audit Office, with satisfaction.
