A kinder, gentler Zeman
Miloš Zeman should trip on the carpet more often. Figuratively speaking, of course. He showed his gentler side last night in his second wheelchair interview. Unlike in his first post-accident address to the public last week in Právo, he took for granted on Rádio Impuls that ČSSD Chair Bohuslav Sobotka will be appointed PM, and he even expressed hope that the coalition government will last the full four years. Alexandr Mitrofanov of Právo noted that Zeman has always shown a friendlier face when sensing that his position is not very strong. The one exception Zeman made last night was in criticizing the Czech National Bank. There is no threat of deflation, Zeman declared, and he stated that his level of appreciation for the CNB's intervention is very, very low. How to read this? Zeman has few heavyweight allies left, and he now has a good excuse to name Jiří Rusnok to the CNB board when a seat opens up on Feb. 28.
Glossary of difficult words
to take for granted - to assume that something is true without questioning it; to fail to appreciate someone or something that is very familiar or obvious;appreciation - a full understanding of a situation; the recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something;
heavyweight - a person of influence or importance, esp. in a particular sphere.