Final Word from Thursday, July 10, 2008
Lidové noviny, which is positioning itself as the mainstream media's conscience of the nation, jumped on Václav Klaus today for stepping out of character regarding the Kroll report on Jiří Čunek's finances. Klaus criticized Karel Schwarzenberg for dilly-dallying with the report, but LN noted that Klaus himself paid little attention to an earlier Kroll report about Viktor Kožený. Why is Klaus so interested this time, LN asked? It was a rhetorical question, but one that deserves a serious answer. Our take on it is that Klaus was actually responding to the recent media attack on his man Martin Pecina. Klaus was indirectly edging Schwarzenberg toward resignation, but not because he has anything against Schwarzenberg or Čunek. The real motivation, it seems, is to disrupt the Topolánek team so that a provisional government - run by Pecina or someone else of Klaus's choosing - can be installed by January.[Czech Republic antitrust office competition technocratic]
Glossary of difficult words
to brandish - to wave or flourish something as a threat (usually followed by a weapon such as a gun, sword or cane, but Klaus happens to be on crutches after his hip operation);
mainstream media - media outlets (mainly print, radio and TV) that represent or influence the prevalent attitudes, values or practices of society;
conscience of the nation - a voice acting as a guide to national values;
to dilly-dally - to waste time through wandering or indecision;
Viktor Kožený - a very well-known asset-stripper;
take on something - view of something, interpretation;
to edge - to cause someone to move gradually in a particular direction.