Final Word from Monday, March 26, 2007
Jiří Paroubek was so flustered by Miloš Zeman's attack on him last week that he made a cardinal mistake. He divulged to HN a bit too much about how Czech politics works. In exchange for help in confirming the Topolánek cabinet, Paroubek said, Vlastimil Tlustý of ODS offered Miroslav Šlouf of ČSSD a share in government bribes. Paroubek suggested specifically that Šlouf would be allowed to join in skimming from the strategic fuel reserves. In terms of informing on fellow politicians, this puts Paroubek in the same league as Jan "Gripen" Kavan. Like Kavan, Paroubek will have to go. TV Nova stressed that Bohuslav Sobotka won more votes as first vice chairman at ČSSD's weekend congress than Paroubek won as chairman. Sobotka is now seen by some to be the eventual replacement. All that's needed is for someone to pull a skeleton out of Paroubek's city-hall past. [Czech Republic Hospodářské noviny conference corruption bribery Mirek]