Final Word from Friday, April 11, 2003
A week is an eternity in Czech politics, but ODS is already making plans for next year. After saying for months that it doesn't want early elections, it's now talking about being forced into them. ODS Chair Mirek Topolánek said in LN that things could get so bad that the public starts to call for ODS to come to the rescue. He all but ruled out going into a broad coalition and instead prefers a technocratic cabinet that guides the CR into early elections. Jaroslav Plesl of LN predicted that Topolánek will be the next regularly elected premier, and this is how Topolánek sees himself. He has adopted a here-I-come attitude and criticized Václav Klaus for losing the June 2002 elections by not stepping down earlier as ODS chair. But the timing of his own attack on the premiership might be just as important for ODS in the next elections and his own career. He can't afford any missteps.