Final Word from Monday, April 3, 2006
Because of his position as potential kingmaker, speculation is mounting about who is behind Chairman Martin Bursík of the Greens. Where is he getting the money for all those billboards? His stance on nuclear power is suspiciously favorable toward ČEZ, but his position on coal seems to favor ČEZ's rival (and potential buyer in privatization), Zdeněk Bakala of RPG/OKD. Bursík wants to ban household heating by coal, and Bakala helpfully explained in LN that OKD is mainly in the coking-coal business and isn't dependent on how households heat themselves. Bakala is closely linked to Václav Havel, who has been a fan of Bursík's environmental leanings for a decade. It will be interesting to see whether Bakala's, Havel's and Bursík's interests all come together again when the privatization of ČEZ shows up on the cabinet's agenda, just as they did when ČSOB bought IPB. [Czech Republic Lidové noviny RPG Industries coal mines]