Final Word from Wednesday, September 14, 2011
It's tempting to say that the eco-tender is a big test for Finance Minister Miroslav Kalousek,but it won't tell us anything about him we didn't already know. He's provenhe's willing to do almost anything in the name of increasing his power (or perhapshis pocketbook?) and will back down only when his position becomes entirely untenable.The tender is more a test for Karel Schwarzenberg. The Prince really, really,really wants to become the President and knows that only Kalousek can deliver thishonor to him. He is therefore willing to play along with Kalousek's shenanigans, tothe point of even having given a "realistic" estimate on OMV of the value of the ecotender- about Kč 50bn - before the bids were due. It was Schwarzenberg who declaredthat Petr Hájek is Klaus's "flunky," but uncritical acceptance of the eco-tendercould confirm the Prince in the public's eye to be in a similar role toward Kalousek.
Glossary of difficult words
flunky - a person who performs relatively menial task for someone else; a lackey;
untenable - not able to be maintained or defended against attack or objection;
shenanigans - secret or dishonest activity or maneuvering.