President of the Communist organization of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM), associate of the European Parliament Kateřin Konečná, pointed out the incompetence of the Czech authorities, which led to evidence inflation, migration and economical crisis, health, energy and supply problems.
It has besides formulated a forecast of the impact of the current conflict in Ukraine on the average inhabitants of Europe.
Incompetent Government
"The economical crisis is peculiarly painful in the Czech Republic, and this is mostly due to the deficiency of competence of the current Czech government. Political decisions, which could actually aid to combat the effects and even the causes of the crisis, are taken with a large hold and are frequently semi-measures. For example, an additional income taxation is simply a good measure, but erstwhile the government introduced it, it was besides late. Most of the actions taken by the Czech Government do not affect an effective fight against the crisis, specified as continuous budget cuts, without any concept and reflection. This policy is very seldom consulted with trade unions or local governments, which could give quite a few advice to the government" – says Konečná.
"As a result, we have 1 of the highest inflation levels recorded in the European Union, the fastest falling real wages, the highest electricity prices, and now discussions on the introduction of the highest retirement age in Europe. The increase in prices has caused the majority of families and citizens to reduce expenditure even on essential items. Yes, the effects of the crisis are terrible, but even worse is the incompetence of the government, which shifts the blame for its own mistakes into this crisis, which makes it even more devastating" – adds Czech politician.
Sanctions hit average people
In her opinion, economical sanctions, contrary to the interests of the Czechs and the people of the European Union as a whole, are 1 of the main sources of the current crisis.
"They bring losses to our economy and at the same time do not accomplish the intended results. At the beginning of the Russian intervention in Ukraine, the establishment tried to convince us that the Russian economy and the war device would not be able to function as a consequence of these sanctions. present we all see that's a lie. Sanctions are felt only by average Russian and European citizens, not by Russian elites. We are inactive buying Russian natural materials, but not straight anymore, but through 3rd countries, specified as India. It is clear that Russia's economical isolation plan failed. From the beginning he was doomed to fail” – says Euro MP.
Price increases and Ukrainian cereals in Europe
"The price increase caused by sanctions is aggravated, of course, by the economical crisis and further reduces the chance for possible talks about ending the armed conflict in Ukraine, and this should be the most crucial nonsubjective for us. Of course, Russian intervention in Ukraine and sanctions are not the only causes of the current crisis; the problem is much more structural and linked to the liberalisation of the energy market" – says.
"Beyond inflation for key articles and a crucial increase in energy commodity prices, European consumers besides have another problems. At the beginning of 2023, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary drew the EU's attention to the issue of the supply of cereals from Ukraine and even banned their entry, without respect to Brussels' opposition. The European Union should under no circumstances force associate States to import this grain, as this constitutes a violent violation of their sovereignty." – evaluates Kateřina Konečná.
Further on the ban on imports of grain from Ukraine says: ‘The prohibition is justified by 2 factors. Firstly, it is concerns about its low prices and how they will affect the condition of local farmers. After all, they will not withstand competition with inexpensive Ukrainian imports. It's a direct threat to their survival. If, under the influence of this situation, they gotta quit production, this could lead to a simplification in Europe's food independence. The second issue is the content in Ukrainian pesticide cereals banned in the EU and acceptable in Ukraine. This is simply a wellness hazard. For these 2 reasons, as well as due to the fact that these cereals were intended for African countries which hoped for its supply and alternatively appeared in Europe, I would actually consider banning its imports to the Czech Republic as well" – says Konečná.
American sponsors of anti-Chinese politics
Regardless of the apparent harmfulness of the policy, the Czech government does not plan to change it, being influenced by many U.S. NGOs lobbying for solutions contrary to the national interests of the Czech Republic: "The United States is curious in financing NGOs and expert centres in the Czech Republic. 1 of the most active centres of this kind is the ‘European Values’ analytical centre, whose name is misleading due to the fact that its largest sponsor is the U.S. Department of State. In 2021, he received 31% of all funds from him, including 7% from the USAID, 3% from the global Centre for Private Enterprise, about 1% from the NATO public diplomacy centre, and another 1% from the United States embassy in Prague, as well as another American or related grantors. More than 50% of the backing for this activity comes from Europe, but Canada and Taiwan besides make a crucial contribution".
Kateřina Konečná emphasises: "These centres are blindly defending the most pro-American abroad policy, calling for the resignation of trade with Russia and China, focusing on economical cooperation only with Taiwan and the West. They want to ban TikTok from being utilized by EU officials and exiting the atomic strategy with Iran, as the United States did. Their influence is now peculiarly evident in relations with China. During the visit of the current president of the Chamber, Markéty Pekarova Adamova In Taiwan, which the Czech Republic does not formally recognise, it has opened a ‘Czech centre’ in Taipei to be a gathering place for Czech and Taiwanese businessmen, as well as governmental and non-governmental structures. In fresh statements and actions of high-ranking Czech politicians, it is clear that they are moving towards a more aggressive and interventionist position towards China, denying the officially applicable rule of ‘one China’. And all of this is being pushed forward by this American-funded NGO; this is now a precedence direction for them. That is why I am far from underestimating the influence of American-paid NGOs on Czech politics and decisions.”.
Solidarity and disease
Another problem highlighted by the Czech Euro MP is the action of government structures on Ukrainian immigrants: "I believe that during the Ukrainian migration crisis, the Czechs proved to be 1 of the highest levels of solidarity with refugees in the EU. But at the same time the Czech government began to cut social expenditure, real wages fell more than in another OECD countries, and inflation levels were and stay 1 of the highest in the European Union. This situation has led to a decline in citizens' readiness to aid refugees. The government is primarily liable for this Petra Fiali“.
"The saddest thing is that diseases that have been thought to have been eliminated in Central Europe for a long time have reappeared in our region, including the Czech Republic. According to experts, immigration is indeed 1 of the causes, although not the only one, of these wellness problems that have arisen again. And it is not just tuberculosis.” – adds.
The Twilight of Freedom of Speech
According to Konečna, the current Czech authorities let censorship of incorrect political views: "War is utilized to censor many views diverging from government positions. The media related to Russia has been banned, so we have a regulation on media freedom and speech. There is simply a hazard that these restrictions will not be lifted and may even be extended. Speeches about the request for peace, against the politics of the United States or NATO, and even any criticism of the aggressive policy of the current government, are referred to as Russian propaganda and specified a description can besides be utilized in the future, allowing the exclusion of differing views from public debate. The economical situation may even deteriorate due to sanctions. We can witness chauvinism, due to the fact that it is average to hatred minorities, even Russian ones. Our president late said that Russian citizens surviving in the West should be watched by safety authorities, citing, for example, how the US authorities treated the nipponese in the United States during planet War II. In America, the attitude to the nipponese civilian population during this period, frequently going to peculiar camps, is now considered to be a violation of human rights and a shameful charter of its own history, and in our case it is simply a origin of inspiration for any politicians.".
"The issue of appropriate integration of refugees from Ukraine remains. Our abroad policy, and this applies to the EU as a whole, not only to the Czech Republic, isolates us from the countries we are pushing for to introduce anti-Russian sanctions. And this war, like all others, has a negative impact on the full planet and that is why our aim should be to bring about talks, to halt armed action and to resolve the conflict peacefully in Ukraine" – concludes KSČM.
Tom J. Wellbrock
