Final Word from Tuesday, February 8, 2005
The government leader stood up in Parliament and declared, "Problem No. 1 in this country has been corruption, starting at the top. I will not take bribes. I will not steal. I will demand the same of my cabinet." The leader wasn't Stanislav Gross, and the country wasn't the CR. It was Viktor Yushchenko in Ukraine. In the CR, ČSSD is going to extraordinary means to excuse the premier's behavior. House Speaker Lubomír Zaorálek devoted 10 minutes to Gross's defense on the BBC yesterday. "There are many iniquities that should be prosecuted," he said, "but it seems someone has decided in this case to look as long as it takes to find one. There's an incongruity. Because Gross is the premier, he's being given special attention." Coalition politicians are having to decide whether to risk their own credibility to defend Gross. Zaorálek has already made up his mind. [Czech Republic prime minister chairman parliament]