Final Word from Tuesday, May 14, 2002
ODS has entered a new phase in its election campaign, where emotion plays a greater role than reason. The party initially addressed issues such as low taxes, EU accession and pension reform that were aimed mainly at its core voters and young professionals. New topics, such as limiting incentives for foreign investors, tightening immigration controls and protecting national interests are aimed more at luring voters away from other parties with an emotional appeal. ODS isn't even afraid of being compared to Jörg Haider or Jean-Marie Le Pen. Although it may seem that ODS has pulled out these issues merely for the election campaign, they are not completely new to Václav Klaus. Late last year, before the campaign had really begun, he said the world is beginning to understand that multiculturalism was a very dangerous, pernicious approach that will have to change.