Final Word from Thursday, May 17, 2018

The government program of the aspiring ANO+ČSSD coalition is replete with euroskeptical comments. "We don't want to just nod our heads to Brussels; we want to change its policies." "The European Union must do less, but in a much better way." "Europe must continue to collaborate and integrate on a volunteer basis and not discriminate against non-members of the eurozone." When it comes to Nato, though, the tone is conflict-free. Nowhere does the document complain about a lack of weight in the Nato decision-making process. ANO and ČSSD commit to raising defense spending to 1.4% of GPD, but they say very little about the specific security risks that justify the accompanying sharp increase in spending on conventional military hardware. Who is it exactly that might invade the CR? The one minister who has been somewhat skeptical of how defense money is being spent, Karla Šlechtová, is being pushed out the door because she likes to relax in the VIP lounge. [Czech Republic NATO equipment army]