TOP 10
Poor TOP 09! From all the eulogies, you'd think the decision to cancel early elections sent the prince's party to the grave. Before jumping to any conclusions, though, take a look at a few facts. 1) TOP 09 entered the scene too late to book billboards for the fall elections - and had to settle for the dog days of summer - but now has the same chance as everyone else. 2) Its convenient deal with Konektor ad agency calls for paying part of the costs after the elections, based on the voting outcome. 3) Miroslav Kalousek is convinced that it will be fairly easy to manage any financial problems caused by the cancelation of early elections. 4) After all, the cabinet now has time to award the huge environmental-cleanup contract. 5) TOP 09 also has time to become a political party. 6) And, as the prince himself noted, the behavior of the big parties is a gift that keeps on giving. Why, pray tell, would TOP even want early elections?
Glossary of difficult words
TOP 10 - a play on the name TOP 09 to suggest that the party might fare better in elections in 2010 than in 2009;eulogy - a speech praising someone, typically someone who has just died;
prince - Karel Schwarzenberg, designated chairman of TOP 09;
to jump to a conclusion - to make a hasty judgment before considering all the facts;
dog days of summer - the hottest days of the year; a period of inactivity;
environmental-cleanup contract - championed by Miroslav Kalousek;
a gift that keeps on giving - a piece of good luck that continues to provide benefits;
pray tell - please explain.