Final Word from Thursday, August 25, 2016

The timing of Angela Merkel's visit today is perfect for her, as it is for Miloš Zeman and Andrej Babiš, but it's catastrophic for Bohuslav Sobotka. Merkel will be able to put the screws to Sobotka with regard to her plans for the upcoming EU summit in Bratislava and her vision for Europe. The idea that Sobotka has any vision for Europe to share with her is illusional. His main interest is staying out of prison, as Zeman and Babiš tighten the noose around his neck regarding OKD and the police reorganization. By emphasizing their own negative stance on refugees, Zeman and Babiš will seek to weaken Sobotka's position before the elections in six weeks. Sobotka will have to go against the wishes of his voters and show at least some solidarity with Merkel's policies, with the hope that she'll intervene in Brussels on his behalf in the OKD and Škoda Transportation matters. Let's be frank, dear Angela doesn't give a damn if her timing is bad for Sobotka. [Czech Republic shit]