Final Word from Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Mayor Jiří Čunek of Vsetín came to fame by being politically incorrect. He dealt with a touchy issue by evicting a troublesome group of mostly Gypsy tenants from city dwellings. Voters rewarded him by electing him to the Senate. Now he's trying to ride the wave into the chairmanship of the Christian Democratic Union. Ex-KDU Chair Miroslav Kalousek said Čunek's eviction steps were neither Christian nor democratic. Kalousek has suddenly become politically correct because he wants his handpicked candidate, Vlasta Parkanová, to be elected to the top KDU post. This would allow him to keep pulling the strings that led to multibillion-crown road, e-toll and defense pork barrels. Voters are sick of such waste and graft and would rejoice in a straight-talker like Čunek. KDU's delegates, though, will likely hide behind political correctness and elect the candidate who brings home the bacon.[Czech Republic KDU-ČSL electronic tolls Gypsies Romany]