Can Spidla be trusted?
Vladimír Špidla set himself apart by building an image
of an honest, level-headed, no-nonsense team player
who was able to eliminate much of what was bad in the
previous administrations. His initial handling of the
floods reinforced this image. But after the recent
government crisis, everything's different. He's being
attacked from all sides as having overreacted, for losing
his nerve, for failing to communicate and for abusing his
position to achieve ideological goals. He's been
knocked from his pedestal. But one big question
remains. Špidla might not be infallible, he might not be
so cool-headed, and he might not be so much of a
political chess player, but isn't he at least still honest?
So far his integrity hasn't been seriously challenged.
But he's no longer likely to get the benefit of the doubt.
Soon after the elections, the ever-dour Špidla learned
to put on a false smile. Can that smile and the man
behind it still be trusted?
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