Final Word from Thursday, May 10, 2018
We are being sued for libel by lawyer Radek Pokorný and must be careful how we write about the highway-toll tender. Please take this into account and read between the lines. That said, the tender conditions for a new toll contract were set by the government of Bohuslav Sobotka. It is widely accepted in business and political circles that Sobotka was heavily influenced by Pokorný. According to transport expert Václav Jirovský, the decision of the Sobotka government to extend toll coverage by 850-3,000km was an instrument for making only satellite technology competitive. In early 2017, ČSSD had a falling out with PPF, whose CzechToll offers satellite technology. Chair Petr Rafaj of the ÚOHS antitrust office, who was renominated by Sobotka, has since issued rulings that favor Kapsch. Yesterday his office canceled the tender won by CzechToll. No matter what happens, Kellner will survive. The same cannot be said for Pokorný and Rafaj. Their necks are on the line. [Czech Republic Wagner SkyToll OVM Václav Moravec Czech TV]
Glossary of difficult words
to fall out with - to have an argument with;
to put/have one's neck on the line - to put oneself at risk or to be at risk of being harmed or punished if something turns out badly.