Final Word from Monday, May 5, 2008
MP Vlastimil Tlustý of ODS - one of the CR's smarter politicians - was on the verge of losing all credibility when he started picking petty fights over tax reform with PM Mirek Topolánek and Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek. Tlustý's behavior was widely interpreted as a spiteful reaction to being unceremoniously sacked as finance minister. With his opposition to the Kč 83-260bn church-restitution law, though, he's gained a second wind. The amounts at stake are so large, and the political implications so great, that Topolánek has every reason to make him an offer. LN said that if the situation gets out of hand, it might even lead to the collapse of the government. At one point, it seemed that Topolánek was going to buy Tlustý's silence by letting him oversee the Budvar privatization. That's too far away, though, so something like the Prague Airport might now be more in Tlustý's sights.[Czech Republic Lidové noviny Catholic Letiště Praha]
Glossary of difficult words
petty - of little importance, trivial;
spiteful - malicious, vindicative;
unceremoniously - abruptly or discourteously;
to sack - to remove, fire;
second wind - new-found strength or ability to continue something that is difficult;
to be in or within one's sights - to be within the scope of one's ambitions or expectations.