Sobotka and Chovanec to the symbolic gallows
Under the tutelage of spin doctors from Bison & Rose PR agency and Pokorný Wagner fixers, Interior Minister Milan Chovanec has learned to talk tough and act like PM material. "It's not possible to tolerate these expressions of xenophobia and racism on Czech streets," he said in a well-rehearsed performance on OVM. He was referring to a protest in Prague last Wed. where insults were hurled and symbolic execution gallows were hoisted about in opposition to the cabinet's "treasonous" refugee policy. Chovanec intentionally turned the discussion around. The gallows were there for him, but he wants to talk about xenophobia and racism, not about how the Sobotka cabinet is completely changing immigration policy without asking a single voter. In his own devious way, Chovanec is using the same tactic as the demonstrators. He is threatening real prison (instead of symbolic hanging ) to those who disagree with his government's policies.
Glossary of difficult words
tutelage - protection of or authority over someone or something; instruction;spin doctor - a person employed to give a favorable interpretation of events to the media, esp. on behalf of a political party;
fixer - a person who makes arrangements for other people, esp. of an illicit or devious kind;
PM material - suitable for becoming prime minister;
to hurl - to utter (abuse) vehemently; to throw an object with great force;
to hoist something (about) - to raise or lift something up (and to carry it around in such a way);
devious - showing a skillful use of underhanded tactics to achieve goals.