Final Word from Wednesday, March 23, 2005
The ČOI inspectorate, which falls under the ČSSD-run industry ministry, launched a probe into the fees charged by rich banks. The development ministry, also controlled by ČSSD, is proposing new housing subsidies that would guarantee another revenue stream to those same rich banks. Does the right hand know what the left is doing? It's understandable that the cabinet wants to take attention away from the political crisis with new projects. But a better way to help aspiring homeowners would be to open up the housing market by ending rent control for those who don't need it, taking key building decisions out of the hands of bribe-happy officials, and making it easier to rezone land to residential use. ČSSD would not only score points among "modern" voters, but Stanislav Gross could also unload that badly zoned suburban-Prague plot of his for a nice price. [Czech Republic land commercial premier prime minister]