Final Word from Thursday, October 17, 2024

With Spolu's poll ratings inching dangerously toward 11%, there's speculation that ODS will replace Petr Fiala as party chairman and PM in time to try to turn things around before next fall's parliamentary elections. Transport Min. Martin Kupka could take over both positions, but Pres. Petr Pavel would have to be willing to give ODS another chance at running the government. He might prefer instead to hand the reins to STAN Chair Vít Rakušan, given that so much is at stake for the democratic parties. Rakušan told Respekt last week that STAN has completely lost the voters in the coun­tryside to ANO, Stačilo!/Enough! and other populists and that he now wants to target them. Making him the PM would certainly give him a bigger platform to do so. It would also be a daring experiment to replace a prime minister who is suddenly trying to act less pro-EU with the head of a party that has always seen more-EU as the solution to any problem. ODS could end up gaining at Rakušan's and Pavel's expense. [ Czech Republic European Union Together ]