Is public debate about future of Czech Budweiser forbidden?
A high-placed politician with the Civic Democrats (ODS) speaks out about rumored plans to privatize the last ‘national enterprise’
Redakce ČESKÉ POZICE | 16.02.2012
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Welcome to capitalism!
Here in the UK, Mrs Thatcher sold most of our national companies in the 80s. Since then, our public transport has fallen to pieces sufficiently that there are constant talks to RE nationalise it.
Government owned companies exist to serve their country. Private companies exist to make as much money as possible for their shareholders at any cost. Which is preferable?
Dear Mr ODS politician
As a foreigner living here, I am quite sure that Czechs are capable of rationally discussing the future of Budvar. If that isn't happening now, that is entirely the fault of your colleague Mr Bendl. He could have calmly presented the issues that you have laid out here; but instead made an inflammatory attack on the CEO, and insinuated that Budvar has a huge marketing budget which is not subject to competitive tenders. He follows that by appointing (without a tender) a dodgy consulting company (its dodginess admirably documented this week by Ceska Pozice) to carry out an 'audit'.
I document here that Mr Bendl's claim about the marketing budget is deliberately disingenuous, and the suggestion that the marketing budget not subject to tenders is manifestly false (because my consultancy assisted Budvar with six tenders since 2003).
Mr Bendl is the type of Czech politician who barely understands the role in a democratic state, but rather thinks that he can achieve what he wants by bullying tactics. If I were you, Mr ODS politician, I would point out to Mr Necas that the mood of the country has changed, and people like Mr Bendl are no longer to be tolerated. It is not about Right vs Left. It is about modern accountable politicians, versus the other, older kind.