Support your local cartel
What percentage of Czech business activity is linked to the political and business cartels that are running the country? A conservative estimate is perhaps 25%. Given the size of this figure, it's not entirely true when Editor-in-chief István Lékó of Euro says that it would be self-destructive if his magazine had a policy of not writing anything critical about ČEZ, as lobbyist James de Candole had claimed in LN. Even with a blatant pro-ČEZ bias, Euro would still have a sizeable potential audience from among those readers in various sectors of the economy whose livelihood is beholden to the cartels. These readers would not want any sunshine that is projected on ČEZ to bring their own shady deals into the light. If PPF has changed its mind about selling Euro, it might be because of the shift on the media scene. There's clearly a greater tendency now to criticize the political and business cartels that are choking the economy. Propping up Euro is one way to assure that these cartels continue to get "objective" coverage.
Glossary of difficult words
support your local cartel - a play on the phrase "support your local sheriff";blatant - completely lacking in subtlety; very obvious; done openly and unashamedly;
sizeable - fairly large;
livelihood - means of support; means of securing the necessities of life;
beholden - owing thanks or having a duty to someone in return for help or a service; indebted to;
shady - of doubtful honesty or legality;
to choke - to suffocate, strangle; to retard the growth of something by depriving it of light, air or nourishment;
to prop up - to provide support or assistance to something that would otherwise fail or decline.