Final Word from Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Imagine the dramatic effect if the NCOZ crime squad used the ODS congress in Jan. to swoop in and arrest all the people mixed up in the SŽ, ŘSD, IKEM, PDZ and bitcoin scandals. Would anyone be left to run the party? ODS's plan so far is to just sever one head of the hydra, Petr Fiala's, and to let the others keep going. When a multinational has a problem with mismanagement or corruption in a faraway land, it often sends someone from headquarters to clean things up. ODS doesn't have this option, but it would if it merged with its most-kindred spirit. No, not TOP 09, but rather Friedrich Merz's CDU. Fiala has already shown a willingness to accept Merz's leadership and often votes the same way in Brussels. In addition, Pres. Petr Pavel wants to sign Czechs up for the German sphere of influence. He'd no doubt prefer that STAN be the guiding force, but it's mistakes at ODS that risk letting Czechs slip out of German orbit. That's not something Berlin can afford either. Schnell, send in a turnaround manager. [ Czech Republic CDU/CSU credit union highway dept. rail-line clinic hospital Pavel Blažek police ]
Glossary of difficult words
to swoop - to carry out a sudden attack, esp. in order to make a capture or arrest;
to be mixed up in - to be involved in (a usually dangerous or improper activity or situation);
to sever - to divide by cutting or slicing, esp. suddenly and forcibly;
kindred spirit - a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one's own;
orbit - an area of activity, interest or influence;
schnell - (German) quick; quickly.