Final Word from Tuesday, May 24, 2005
ODS Chair Mirek Topolánek is a favorite on the lecture circuit, because he always says what's on his mind. This same trait, though, is getting him into big trouble. He speaks a mile a minute and is having to do a lot of after-the-fact explaining. Some of his recent jewels: The draft EU constitution is "shit"; Europe shows signs of being a civilization on the verge of extinction; some NGOs spread communism; ODS was hurt in 2002 by Klaus's Fascist-looking face on campaign posters. As Czech Radio noted yesterday, ODS's approval rating has dropped by 6.5 points since Jan., and the party wasn't able to take advantage of the recent political crisis. Topolánek, in another fit of candor, said last night that he expects ČSSD's approval rating to start rising again. Part of ODS's problem is that Topolánek isn't getting any better in his public performances as party chairman. [Czech Republic European Union Václav President Chairman nongovernmental organizations nonprofit non-profit non-governmental]