Final Word from Monday, August 2, 2010
As Jan Fischer was preparing to leave office as prime minister, he complained to ČT24 that ICT companies have divided up the various ministries and have put contracts in place that are almost impossible for the ministries to get out off. Turning this into a competitive market will be a huge problem, he said. What better place to start trying than at the interior ministry, which Radek John of VV has promised to clean up? When Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer concluded an agreement with then-Interior Minister Ivan Langer in May 2008 in Prague, Langer boasted that it would allow the state to save Kč 700m in IT costs. However, he never revealed the full size or scope of the contract. Later information indicated that it was worth at least Kč 1.55bn in software alone. In the fiscal year that began soon after Ballmer's handshake with Langer, Microsoft's net profit in the CR jumped 25.0%, while Microsoft's global earnings fell for the same period by 17.6%. It's time for Radek John to come clean about the sweetheart deal between Langer and Ballmer.[Czech Republic ODS Věci veřejné]
Glossary of difficult words
ICT - information and communications technologies;
IT - information technology;
scope - the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with;
fiscal year - a year as reckoned for taxing or accounting purposes (which might not coincide with the calendar year);
to come clean - to be completely honest; to keep nothing hidden;
sweetheart deal - an abnormally favorable contractual arrangement.