Final Word from Monday, January 13, 2025
Yesterday's interview with PM Petr Fiala on CNN Prima News was a turning point. Until now it was risky to predict with any high degree of confidence that the ruling coalition will be shown the door after the parliamentary elections, because so many things could still happen. However, Fiala's complete unwillingness yesterday to accept the current situation turns him into a lame duck, even though that designation is normally reserved for politicians who remain in office but have already lost an election or can't be elected again. This new situation means that changes planned in Parliament this year by the ruling coalition should now be looked upon suspiciously as being lame-duck measures of the kind Joe Biden is adopting. Moreover, Fiala's complete dismissal yesterday of the legitimate concerns about the foreign-powers amendment (Para. 318a) to the penal code means that even strong supporters of the coalition government should question whether Fiala is still committed to liberal democracy. [ Czech Republic TV criminal unauthorized activity ]
Glossary of difficult words
lame duck - a politician or administration in the final period of office, after the election of a successor;
to show someone the door - to escort someone to the exit of the premises; to expel someone from a room, gathering, office, etc.