Final Word from Friday, February 27, 2004
President Václav Klaus is celebrating his first year in office, and no one is being nicer to him than MF Dnes. The daily devoted eight shiny pages to a smiling Klaus in its TV magazine yesterday and another 12 pages of newsprint to him today, in addition to the flattering coverage it gives him on a regular basis. Týden said that MFD is turning into the Castle paper. It hasn't always been like this, of course, but MFD has determined that Klaus-love sells better than Klaus-hate. Premier Vladimír Špidla, in contrast, is in the doghouse. Readers of MFD overwhelmingly disapprove of his tax reforms, and the paper's headlines and news reports are pounding this home. Klaus denies that he changes his stance on issues to suit public opinion, but his favorite newspaper doesn't mind pandering to the masses. At least for now, Klaus is in, Špidla is out, and MFD makes sure we all know it.