Boring populists

One rabble-rouser after another whipped up the 40,000-strong crowd on Palach square in Prague yesterday, in the biggest labor demonstration since 1994. ČMKOS Chairman Jaroslav Zavadil even asked "where's the money" that has been drained from the budget by the Topolánek-Kalousek-Nečas reforms and by intermediaries taking their 10-15%? It should have been fertile ground for ČSSD, which presents itself as the workers' party. Bohuslav Sobotka, Jiří Paroubek and others from ČSSD watched on, but when it came time for Sobotka to comment on the event as acting ČSSD chair, the spirit died. His presentations were monotone and unemotional. Alexandr Mitrofanov of Právo once told Czech Radio that Sobotka is incapable of emotion and that if he does show some, it is feigned. Question: Can ČSSD be an effective "populist" party if it doesn't have a leader capable of stirring up a crowd? [Czech Republic Mirek Miroslav Petr unions]