Final Word from Thursday, April 9, 2015
It happens often in politics that someone makes a threat that, if not heeded, will bring about direct political consequences, even the collapse of a coalition government. "If you push for lower taxes," for example, "we'll have to pull out of the coalition." Less common is a political threat that is based on a single person's commercial interests. "If you mess with my law on biofuels," for example, "I will bring down the coalition government." This goes beyond typical political horsetrading and moves into the realm of criminal extortion known from the movies: "Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract." Substitute Chairman Jaroslav Faltýnek of ANO's parliamentary caucus for Luca Brasi, and Andrej Babiš for Don Corleone, and you get the picture. Babiš wanted so much to be looked at as a Kellner-like godfather that he has become the biggest of them all. [Babiš Faltýnek godfather]
Glossary of difficult words
to heed - to pay attention to; to be guided by;
extortion - the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats;
caucus - political faction, bloc or club.