Final Word from Friday, March 10, 2006
The Czech economy grew by a record 6.0% last year, so why aren't manufacturers leaping for joy? Because their competitive advantage is quickly being eroded. Deputy Premier Jiří Havel of ČSSD proclaims that market forces must be allowed to operate, and in terms of quickly rising energy prices, this is indeed happening. But ČSSD isn't as market-competitive when it comes to such things as social taxes, social-security caps or worker absenteeism, and this is hurting industry. Behind its veil of market economics, ČSSD is shifting manufacturing profits directly to ČEZ. Environment Minister Libor Ambrozek of KDU-ČSL said on F1 radio that ČEZ has too much influence over the government. MP Vlastimil Tlustý of ODS suggested in MFD today that ČEZ is financing ČSSD's election campaign. It's sad if ČSSD is willing to cripple Czech industry in the hope of winning the June elections. [Czech Republic electricity power MF Dnes productivity]