Tuesday, January 29
President Vaclav Klaus and his opponent Jan Svejnar met in a debate in the Czech Senate where they were answering questions from Social Democrat Senators. According to political analysts the benefit of this debate slash discussion is almost nonexistent. Both candidates only showed off their characters that everybody knows already.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
▄ Czech News Agency: Former president Havel supports Jan Svejnar against Vaclav Klaus. We need fresh wind, Havel says
Friday, December 21:
▄ Czech News Agency: Klaus: TV debate with Svejnar? No way! (in English)
A rather lengthy comment is in preparation…both for the blog and for a newspaper…
Friday, December 14:
▄ IHT: US-based economist Svejnar to run for Czech president
▄ Reuters: Czech economist Svejnar launches presidential bid
▄ Czech News Agency: Klaus welcomes Svejnar’s decision to run for Czech president
▄ Earth Times: Czech-born, US-based economist to run for Czech presidency
The Czech Daily Word comment:
As you might know the Czech president is NOT elected by popular vote but by the Parliament. By 281 people. And so the presidential candidates do not tour the country, they do not have rallies and speeches, they do not convince the general folks about their qualities.
Hell no. They visit two buildings. The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate where they visit all the parties and try to get their promises that the respective MP’s will vote for them. They do nothing but haggle. You promise US this and we will vote for you. Svejnar, as you can get the idea from the articles, would only announce his candidacy AFTER HE HAD HAGGLED some support. What kinds of candidacy is is? It is nothing but dancing with wolves. You be nice to them and feed them and pet them and they will not bite you…
No wonder that so many Czechs are frustrated with politics. They know that it is a general rule that politicians will in the end do always what they want and not what their voters want. The social democrats will pick some guy named Svejnar because he is acceptable and because he can get votes from other parties whose nominee would not have a chance.
In other words, it is fucking haggling again. I am not a big fan of some U.S. domestic policies, but their personality-based campaigns and elections are way WAY better…
