Green light still shining for Stoen privatization despite controversies

The Treasury held a press conference on Friday and told journalists that the privatization of the energy sector will continue in its present shape. The purchase of the 85% stake of Stoen by RWE was met with emotional and powerful protests by some politicians, who demanded changes to the privatization policy. Treasury Minister Wieslaw Kaczmarek repeated his satisfaction with the current policy, which continues to have the full backing of the premier and government. The Minister is receiving support for the management and unions of Stoen. Union representative Marek Mazgalo dismissed the protests as opposition politicians playing games on the eve of the local elections. He shrugged off claims over fears surrounding energy supplies to Warsaw. He stated that in some European capitals, like London, the electricity supply is controlled by a foreign company. Mazgalo commented that the new owner of Stoen will not mean higher energy prices. (Prawo i Gospodarka, Oct. 19-21, p. 1, 3) K.Z.