The metamorphosis of Jeroným Tejc

Pinpointing exactly when MP Jeroným Tejc, age 35, went from being one of the CR's most-promising young democrats to an old-style promoter of Zeman-like autocracy is a fool's game, but we'll try it anyway. It must have been during the last week of June or first week of July. That's when Tejc gently turned against ČSSD Chair Bohuslav Sobotka by saying their party shouldn't be hysterical about forcing those who join the Rusnok cabinet to leave ČSSD. Since then it has been a rapid mutation. Over the weekend, according to LN, Tejc joined with Michal Hašek in urging ČSSD's MPs to support Rusnok in the first confidence vote. Tejc, who wants to be interior minister, knows whence the wind blows. So apparently does VP Radek Špicar, age 36, of the Confederation of Industry, who has undergone a similar transformation. His day job is head of Aspen Institute Prague, whose mission includes promoting "values-based leadership." Zeman's leadership values are clear; now begins the recruitment of the next generation for promoting them.