Final Word from Tuesday, November 2, 2021
News reports yesterday and today give the impression that the Pirates blame their humiliation in the parliamentary elections, in which they lost 18 of their 22 seats, only on the "circling" campaign of the STAN mayors' group. In their "Analysis of the breaches of the contractual arrangements" with STAN, the Pirates demonstrate how their partner provided instructions to its voters on electoral leapfrogging. Yet both Ivan Bartoš and Jakub Michálek of the Pirates have also publicly blamed Blesk tabloid for their woes. One week before the elections, on Oct. 1, Blesk provided a "model example" of how four STAN candidates can be given preference over 14 Pirates. Three of the four STAN candidates were ultimately elected, to only two of the 14 Pirates. And that was just in Prague. Blesk's instructions had a wider reach than any independent activities of individual STAN candidates. Blesk owner Daniel Křetínský probably thinks he should get one of STAN's ministries as recompense. [ Czech Republic PirStan ]
Glossary of difficult words
humiliation - the action of making (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring his or her dignity and pride;
breach - an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement or code of conduct;
to leapfrog - to surpass or overtake another to move into a leading or dominant position;
woes - things that cause sorrow or distress; troubles;
recompense - compensation or reward given for effort made, or for loss or harm suffered.