Final Word from Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Jiří Čunek corruption scandal is like so many that came before it. Čunek, who is vice PM, development minister and KDU-ČSL chair, isn't able to offer a credible defense to charges of taking a Kč 500,000 bribe. He's hanging on tooth and nail, convincing voters even more that politics is one big cesspool. He'll eventually resign, and his case will then be quietly dropped by the police. The goal is to remove him, not to stir up a hornet's net. There are many theories about who unleashed the scandal and why. What seems clear is that when Čunek resigns, the wing of KDU controlled by Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek will regain the power it lost as a result of Kalousek's own indiscretions. Kalousek will then get to pick the new party chairman (perhaps Vlasta Parkanová) and will gain greater control over EU funding. That's the only truly interesting part of this familiar tale.[Czech Republic European Union structural funds Christian Democrats bribery bribe-taking]