Man of easy virtue

Mirek Topolánek failed to win his confidence vote yesterday, by a margin of 99-96. Three MPs from KDU-ČSL walked out of the chamber, including ex-Chairman Miroslav Kalousek. Topolánek said that by walking out, Kalousek was announcing his departure from political life. Another interpretation, though, is that Kalousek was simply increasing his future value. On the one hand, an interim government that brings together ODS and ČSSD will need KDU to avoid looking like a "grand opposition coalition agreement." On the other hand, Václav Klaus will need KDU to get reelected, because he probably won't even receive all of ODS's votes, much less all of ČSSD's. Flirting with ČSSD and the Communists yesterday was Kalousek's way of returning to the role of kingmaker. Like in the old George Bernard Shaw joke, we already know what he is, now it's just an issue of price. [Czech Republic confirmation Winston Churchill]