Final Word from Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Ondřej Malý of the ČTÚ telecoms regulator had the gall to go on 168 hodin and to compare the mobile operators to the miscreants (šmejdi) who use pots and pans to cheat senior citizens. His "just" reward for doing so much to call attention to this fundamental problem of the Czech telecoms market was to be sacked. Industry Min. Jan Mládek of the very party (ČSSD) that is supposed to be looking out for consumers will not renominate him to the ČTÚ. This is the reality of what happens to Czech whistleblowers. At the same time that ČSSD is talking tough against the operators, it's taking steps to help them. Bohuslav Sobotka also beat his chest while rejecting the idea of fines as a percentage of revenue. To use Sobotka's own lingo, ČSSD wants to have its cake (by appearing to defend consumers) and to let PPF's O2 CR eat it too (by continuing to screw consumers). Elections are approaching, and ČSSD needs Petr Kellner's help against Andrej Babiš. [Czech Republic telecommunications Czech TV Television]