Electrostate

Almost as an afterthought, the 38-point Tripartite agreement this week between the Czech government, employers and the unions on post-crisis measures puts support for the industry ministry's new energy policy statement at the very end. The last item is even written in a different tone from the others, except for No. 14, which deals with enlarging Temelín and upgrading Prunéřov power plants. Perhaps the other 36 points are actually the afterthought, and the entire exercise was primarily designed to support ČEZ's energy policy. A review of the 38 points suggests that representatives of the Confederation of Industry - who are supposed to support the broad interests of business - are specialized energy lobbyists. They caved in to the unions' demands on such issues as temporary work contracts and higher taxes for the self-employed in exchange for the unions' support for energy issues. If Russia is a petrostate, the CR has become an electrostate, where government and industrial policy is guided by a single interest. [Czech Republic ČMKOS Transportation]