Final Word from Monday, July 22, 2002
If the history books ever pinpoint a precise moment when the tide turned against mafia capitalism in the CR, it might be Jan Kasl's campaign against corruption at city hall. His comments started an avalanche that's led to the retirement of one Prague official (Petr Švec) and the exposure of several others (Filip Dvořák, Rudolf Blažek, etc.). All other politicians have been put on notice, and Vladimír Špidla seems much more interested in cleaning up government and business than Václav Klaus or Miloš Zeman. Just as it usually takes a "rat" to bring the Mafia to justice, it took a Prague insider to stir things up at city hall. New Mayor Igor Němec doesn't like this and is using an argument straight out of the Godfather to defend his "family." He complained to Právo that for the first time since 1989, Czech politicians are being treated like criminals.