Savov goes for Bakala's jugular
Of the heads of the Five Families, the odd man out is Zdeněk Bakala. To quote one of his employees, Jan Macháček, he didn't steal in coupon privatization like most of the shady characters. (No, he arranged to buy under duress from those who did steal.) One of the theories for Bakala's purchase of Economia publishing house was the perceived need to defend against those who put him in the same category as PPF, J&T, Penta and KKCG. Economia has served well in this respect by cultivating journalists and cohorts who dare not speak of the origin of Bakala's money. However, Economia's place on the market is now being challenged by František Savov's Mladá fronta, which owns E15 and Euro. By putting Bakala on the cover of Euro this week, Savov seems to be declaring war. Such a war will be good for readers, because if Bakala wants to fend off Savov, he'll have make his fine publications all that much better.
Glossary of difficult words
to go for the jugular - to be aggressive or unrestrained in making an attack;odd man out - a person differing from all other members of a particular group or set in some way;
shady - of doubtful honesty or legality;
duress - threats, violence, constraints or other action brought to bear on someone to get him or her to do something against his or her will or better judgment;
cohort - a supporter or companion; an accomplice or conspirator;
to fend off - to defend oneself from a blow, attack or attacker.