Final Word from Monday, August 21, 2006
It's not yet entirely clear whether ČSSD will agree to an ODS minority government, so the hardball tactics continue. ODS is leaking organized-crime reports to the media and is pushing for a ČKA commission. ČSSD is sending minor ODS-era people to prison and is criticizing the privatizations of the 1990s. ČSSD's position to maneuver is rather limited, though, because ODS hasn't been in charge of the national government since 1997. A frustrated Jiří Paroubek, when pressed about his party's corruption, asked Czech TV whether it doesn't think that Václav Klaus was involved in any privatization scandals. Oops. Since then, Paroubek's negative attitude toward Vlastimil Tlustý as finance minister has suddenly changed. He probably realized that if ČSSD and ODS are to reach an agreement on ending this fratricide, Tlustý - and not Mirek Topolánek - will be the go-to man.[Czech Republic Česká konsolidační agentura Televsion parliamentary president]