Final Word from Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Without Václav Klaus' help, it will be very difficult for Miloš Zeman to win the presidential elections in Parliament. He simply won't have the votes. Klaus, meanwhile, has almost no chance of winning. Assuming he knows this, he'll be faced with the choice in Jan. of either trying to force direct elections, where he stands a better chance, or of striking a deal to support Zeman. But what can Zeman offer Klaus in return? Some people say Zeman could give him the chairmanship of Parliament. Others say a piece of the action regarding the D47 highway contract. But would either of these satisfy Klaus' lust for a full political comeback? Probably not. Ivan Gabal of Gabal Analysis & Consulting predicts that Zeman will offer Klaus the job of premier of a new ODS-led cabinet. The next question is whether their party colleagues will allow this to happen.