Final Word from Tuesday, August 6, 2024

MP Jan Skopeček of ODS became the latest politician last night on CNN Prima News to call for Development Min. Ivan Bartoš to step down if he doesn't get the online building-permit system working properly by the end of Aug. Skopeček said that Bartoš presented it as his flagship activity and that he can't imagine that a minister wouldn't resign if he failed at his own flagship activity. Pres. Petr Pavel said last week that there should have been more testing before the system was rolled out for the entire country. Pavel is beginning to have his own similar problem on the international level. Neue Zürcher Zeitung reported yesterday that the Czech ammunition program for Ukraine is running into unexpected obstacles and that there are fewer of "Pavel's shells" than initially promised. One of the issues, as Pavel himself acknowledged, is that he tipped his hand by talking about the plans publicly, which brought the Russians into the game and caused prices to rise. But no one expects Pavel to resign for bungling his own flagship activity, because missing artillery shells are seen to be less of an issue than delayed building permits. [ Czech Republic munitions rounds Pirates Switzerland ]