Topolanek must win big

ODS Chair Mirek Topolánek said in MFD on Sat. that his party "must" win the 2006 elections. Not so much because of him or because of ODS, he added, but because of what the socialists are doing. ČSSD is going beyond what is normal in a democracy, he said. He's finally found a powerful argument, but precisely because of what ČSSD is doing, it might be better for the CR and its center-right voters if ČSSD wins the elections. Why? Unless ODS is able to form a majority cabinet with KDU-ČSL (which the polls do not currently indicate), a narrow election victory by ODS would probably force ČSSD into a minority government backed by the Communists. However, if ČSSD won by a narrow margin, it would come under tremendous pressure to look past the Communists and to form a grand coalition with ODS (without Topolánek, no doubt). The only way Topolánek can win is if he wins really big. [Czech Republic MF Dnes Mladá fronta KSČM]