Final Word from Friday, August 20, 2004
Soon after Vladimír Špidla was forced out, he complained about the Bolshevistic aspects of Czech politics. It's always the winners vs. the losers, he told HN, and ČSSD has refused to be a team player. Under Stanislav Gross, things will only get worse. True, ČSSD has given up some of its demands in the interest of reaching a coalition agreement, and it's promising a sort of post-Bolshevik New Economic Policy, but it's having to twist even the arms of its own MPs to hang onto power. If we're to believe ODS Chair Mirek Topolánek, Stanislav Gross is using fear to get the votes he needs. Miroslav Macek of ODS says that Gross is holding secret-police files over party members who might step out of line. It was Leo Tolstoy who said that "every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Gross will get the votes he needs on Tues., but it'll be one bolshaya dysfunctional family. Anna Karenina premier Lev Tolstoi bolshoi bolshoy