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Double agents and blackmail

2007-01-15
There's a debate in the spy world - at least in the fictional one - about whether it's better to "turn" an uncooperative person by using blackmail or corruption. If Mirek Topolánek wins confirmation on Fri. by promising to help Miloš Zeman become president, the defectors who cross over will no doubt be rewarded. Jiøí Paroubek, in turn, was using blackmail against these possible double agents by threatening to expel them from ÈSSD. It was a standstill until Zeman declared that Paroubek shouldn't be reelected ÈSSD chairman. By proposing Zdenìk Škromach as the replacement, he was blackmailing Paroubek into submission. Paroubek will now think twice before siding with Václav Klaus and Pavel Bém. As to Škromach, Zeman probably has no real desire to install him as ÈSSD chair. Dumping Paroubek would only create a rift in ÈSSD that hurts Zeman's presidential chances. [Czech Republic grand coalition ODS]