Czech TV gives Zeman a boost

Consumers of news are sometimes left in the dark about whether something is an honest mistake with no ulterior motive or an intentional mistake meant to mislead. Czech TV told viewers last week that the coalition being spoken about most in the corridors of Parliament was ANO-ODS-ČSSD. Informed viewers knew it was nonsense, but they couldn't know whether it was an honest mistake or a dishonest attempt to lead the discussion in this direction. Was it perhaps disinformation by the Pokorný-Růžička factions of ČSSD and ODS? Confusingly, viewers of ČT1 were told last night that the second-round coalition being talked about most in the corridors of Parliament is ANO-KSČM-SPD. Again, informed viewers knew it was nonsense, but they couldn't know whether it was an honest mistake or a dishonest attempt to prolong the life of the "billionaire/Neo-Nazi/Communist" label attached to Babiš. Ironically, such a label two days before the presidential elections helps Miloš Zeman far more than it hurts Babiš. After all, it's the 57.5% ANO-KSČM-SPD "coalition" that will - or won't - get Zeman reelected.