Waiting for Topolanek

If TV Nova's "7" debate on Sat. between Premier Stanislav Gross and ODS Chairman Mirek Topolánek was a taste of what's to come, the political year ahead can be summed up in one word: Boring. Almost as an apology to viewers who nodded off, Nova explained later that the two had promised to be nice to each other. Viewers who lasted through the entire show learned at least a few things: The cabinet plans to crack down on foreign truck transit; ODS wants a referendum on the EU constitution in late 2005 or early 2006; Gross is banking on depicting ODS as being outside the EU mainstream; Topolánek needs to get some sleep; and Gross has plenty of fight left in him. Martin Zvěřina of LN said 2005 won't be boring, but he called it the year of "Waiting for Topolánek." If Zvěřina was alluding to Beckett's "Waiting for Godot," Topolánek might want to keep in mind that Godot never came. [Czech Republic European Union Sedmička Lidové noviny Samuel Beckett]