Final Word from Tuesday, August 29, 2006
The revolt within KDU-ČSL against Miroslav Kalousek can be seen as a purge of the old guard of Czech politicians, as expounded routinely by Václav Havel. Taken to its extreme, the attempt by the devout country folks within KDU to clear out the infidels in Prague could spread to other parties and threaten the likes of Jiří Paroubek, Milan Urban, Ivan Langer, Vlastimil Tlustý and, ultimately, even Václav Klaus. But not all Christian Democrats believe in the afterlife, and life after Kalousek looks grim indeed for KDU. Kalousek has been its primary dealmaker and fundraiser, and KDU can't afford to lose him. His resignation last year as chair of the budget committee was meant to "contribute to the political culture" but of course didn't. Like Filip Dvořák of ODS in Prague 1, or Miloš Zeman in the highlands, Kalousek will just slip into the background and keep pulling the strings.[Czech Republic ČSSD People's Party Communists KSČM]