Final Word from Friday, September 15, 2006
Everyone read something different into Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlustý's "secret" visit this week to Miloš Zeman's cottage. Some linked it to the budget deficit and an attempt by ODS to find a cross-party compromise. Some thought that Tlustý and Zeman were conspiring to bring down Premier Mirek Topolánek. Bohuslav Sobotka saw Zeman's fraternization with the enemy as a power grab within ČSSD. Perhaps all these elements are part of a bigger scheme. Tlustý is a pureblood Klaus supporter, and his meeting with Zeman can be seen as another sign that the president doesn't intend to give Jiří Paroubek the second chance to form a cabinet. Zeman probably wouldn't accept the post of PM - been there, done that - but Klaus might ask him to fill the Josef Lux role of negotiating an interim technocratic government run by someone else. Zeman's choice might be ex-Minister Jiří Rusnok.[Czech Republic Václav prime minister KDU-ČSL ING Pension Fund]