Pass the hat for poor Martin

CEO Martin Roman of ČEZ is a smooth operator, and hardly any influential Czech is willing to stand up to him. Czech prime ministers tend to talk tough about energy rates when they first take office but then show up in public a short time later wearing an expensive watch and singing a different tune. One of the few people who won't back down is talk-show host Jan Kraus. He said on F1 radio that ČEZ is a "mafia institution" that needs to be broken up and squashed. It serves as a cash till for politicians, he said, and all the parties are sucking money out of it. The rumor around Prague is that Roman is going to have to pass on Kč 500m of his ample compensation and stock options to his political protectors. And that's on top of the Kč 100m already promised to Václav Klaus Jr. After politicians suck him dry, Roman might not even have food money left. Let's start a collection for the poor fellow. [Czech Republic Frekvence jedna Co vy na to, pane Kraus?]