Smear month

Jiří Paroubek's claim that he is axing anyone if there is even a whiff of corruption sounds hollow given that Health Minister David Rath, Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Farm Minister Jan Mládek remain in place. Remember, Rath's associate was filmed trying to arrange a meeting with him for a payoff as head of the Medical Chamber, Sobotka is up to his neck in it at ČKA, and Mládek can't explain his property dealings (not to mention IPB). The difference between these three and the mostly minor figures within ČSSD who have been dismissed is that the heavy-hitters are close to Paroubek himself. He took power when different rules applied. Officials of ČSSD and ODS could feel relatively safe then, because they had the dirt on each other. Now all the dirt is being slung, and the crucial question for ČSSD in the May smear period is whether Paroubek can keep it from sticking to himself. [Czech Republic Agriculture ČSOB Česká konsolidační agentura Eva Klimovičová]