Final Word from Tuesday, April 3, 2007
CzechInvest is sometimes referred to as a kindergarten, because of the low average age of its staff. Tomáš Hruda, who was sacked as CEO, is only 28. Crusty old ministry workers seldom get agitated when the boss is fired, but CzechInvest's youngsters staged a mutiny. Nine of the 10 top managers resigned, and 80% of the 313 staffers are threatening to do so. Radomil Novák, who heads the Silicon Valley office, said he doesn't want to be associated with any untransparent distribution of EU funds. Hruda himself was more diplomatic, merely hinting that Říman's structural-fund director, Miroslav Elfmark, is the one to watch. The truth is coming out, but Říman isn't likely to give in. The departure of the protesters would make a fine tale about the younger generation and its principles, but it would also make it much easier for Říman to achieve his ultimate goal of dismantling the agency.[Czech Republic European Union funding]