Final Word from Friday, April 16, 2010
The Greens speak in their election campaign about making the CR attractive for business, but can the party make itself attractive for business? Can it separate itself from the image of a group of radicals who can't agree among themselves on much of anything? Chair Ondřej Liška faced a skeptical group of businesspeople at a talk yesterday with the Council on Czech Competitiveness. By the end, he was winning praise from several of them for presenting a alternative to the major parties. Four of the Greens' no-compromise demands for supporting the next cabinet are business-related - fighting corruption, consolidating the budget, adopting the euro and being pro-EU. Much will come down to whether voters decide to give the Greens a second chance. They failed to stand up to the big parties last time, but Liška insisted that they learned from their mistakes and will be a significant corrective force next time.[Czech Republic coalition European Union]
Glossary of difficult words
green - concerned with or supporting protection of the environment as a political principle; inexperienced, naive, or gullible;
no-compromise demands - issues on which the Green Party insists; if progress is not made on them within 12 months, the Greens say they will stop supporting the government;
to come down to - (of a situation or outcome) to be dependent on (a certain factor);
to stand up to someone - to make a spirited defense against.