Final Word from Monday, February 4, 2008
Mirek Topolánek got it half-right when he claimed yesterday that there's a "pro-corruption" coalition behind Jan Švejnar's candidacy. The reality of Czech society is that if you want to break into certain circles, whether business, social or political, you must take sides. Being objective or independent isn't fashionable. If you sit on the fence, you'll often sit alone at home on the couch. In this sense, the clique that is "out of power" is indeed assembling behind Švejnar. And it is "pro-corruption" in the sense that it is using the means at its disposal to make its power play. Yet to suggest that ČSOB is the ringleader and that the IPB-related arbitration is the driving force behind Švejnar's candidacy is probably wrong. ČSOB actually stands to lose from Švejnar's candidacy, because it re-politicizes an issue that had lost much of its explosiveness. But Topolánek has achieved his goal of raising a serious doubt.[Czech Republic PM prime minister]
Glossary of difficult words
to get something half-right - to be partially correct but to be missing a crucial aspect;
to sit on the fence - to avoid making a decision or choice or to take both sides of an issue;
clique - a small group of people with shared interests;
power play - tactics intended to increase a person's power or influence;
ringleader - a person who initiates or leads an illicit or informal activity.