Arrogance as an asset

Once ČSSD regroups under Premier Jiří Paroubek, it will have no choice but to launch an attack against those who brought on the political crisis. The first assault will apparently be against the press. Paroubek already wants to propose a media law for giving politicians greater protection against pestersome journalists. He also told Právo on Sat. that a surprise is in store for the "switchmen" at MFD who diverted "contrived" information about Stanislav Gross to the public. Miloš Zeman successfully discredited the media (and himself) by arrogantly referring to journalists as "scum" and "dirty little whores." Paroubek is one of the few Czech politicians who can challenge Zeman and Václav Klaus in the arrogance department. If he uses this quality well, as Alexandr Mitrofanov of Právo suggested today, he might just be the person to return ČSSD to its former glory. [Czech Republic Social Democrats president journalism reporters MF Dnes]