The Czech state could help save certain companies seen to have strategic importance for the country. Speaking on a televised Sunday news program, prime minister Andrej Babiš said that this discussion was currently taking place over Smartwings, the biggest national airline. “All the airlines are having big problems and Smartwings has asked for a loan,” he said. Smartwings has asked for a loan, said Babiš, adding that the issue wasn’t a concern for him at the moment. Having sold off its share only a couple years ago after a disastrous period of ownership, there’s little enthusiasm in economic circles for the state to become directly involved in Smartwings’ management. “Every similar crisis in history, big and small, has been exploited to increase the state’s role in the economy more than is healthy,” said Jan Skopeček of the opposition party ODS. The minister of industry Karel Havlíček said such discussions were not currently underway but that in the case of a few select companies, the state could consider stepping in.
