Final Word from Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Ex-Foreign Min. Lubomír Zaorálek said at the ČSSD party congress on June 10 that the energy caps during the crisis were done by Pavel Tykač of Sev.en Energy and Daniel Křetínský of EPH and that Vice Chair Zdeněk Zajíček of ODS arranged them at the cabinet office. Czech economic performance is one of the worst in the EU, Zaorálek said, but the richest Czechs are getting richer through their close cooperation with the government. When asked by Novinky.cz if he could prove what he was claiming, he said he didn't need to because it's blatant and is happening before our very eyes. Zdeněk Zajíček is now president of the Czech Chamber of Commerce, and he reportedly wants every person with a business license to start paying a mandatory annual fee of Kč 200 to the Chamber, because it represents all businesses, and not just its members. This would give the Chamber revenue of Kč 380m per year, not counting the debt-seizure deals it could do for going after all those who refuse to pay because they don't feel they're being represented by the Chamber. If the coalition approves this new tax, it will be another nail in ODS's coffin. [ Czech Republic SocDem Economic Chamber ]