Final Word from Monday, November 14, 2016
Bohuslav Sobotka grinned like a little boy yesterday when Miroslava Němcová of ODS chastised Donald Trump for already flip-flopping on some of his campaign promises. The calculated grin was meant to prevent ČT viewers from grasping that Sobotka is also a flip-flopper who employs the very "absolute cynicism" that he was criticizing. Just look at Sobotka's comments of the past week. The cabinet reshuffle was supposed to bring fresh blood to the cabinet and ČSSD. The result? No changes within ČSSD, and a promise to Prague dinosaur Miloslav Ludvík that Sobotka will support him as head of ČSSD's Prague ticket next year if he becomes health minister. Sobotka had also told Echo that he didn't want an internal ČSSD referendum for choosing a presidential candidate; yesterday, when he needed Miloš Zeman's help, he suddenly said he wants one. Trump used cynicism to get elected as president, Sobotka uses it to get reelected as ČSSD chairman. [Czech Republic Czech TV Television]
Glossary of difficult words
shade - (in this context) a slightly differing variety of something;
to chastise - to express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of his or her behavior or actions;
to flip-flop - to make an abrupt reversal of policy;
to reshuffle - to interchange the positions of (members of a team, esp. government ministers).