Scheming with Tlusty

The spiritual "He's got the whole world in his hands" was written about a higher being, but in the little world of Czech politics it's Vlastimil Tlustý who's got everybody on a string. Under certain conditions, he could probably bring down the cabinet in Oct., when a no-confidence vote is taken. Some observers say that Tlustý is merely a loose cannon who has let his vanity and feeling of injustice (for being sacked as finance minister) get the better of him. Others see Tlustý's obstinacy as part of a well- planned scheme to bring down Mirek Topolánek by the end of the year and to install a provisional government reminiscent of the old Zeman-Klaus opposition agreement. Topolánek himself seems to lean in this direction in an interview in HN today. Once betting agencies start taking wagers on Klaus's choice for the next PM, it will be interesting to see whether Pavel Bém, Ivan Langer, Martin Pecina, Miloš Zeman or Tlustý himself becomes the odds-on favorite. [Czech Republic Václav interim early new elections]