Baxa-22
Everyone is waiting, either eagerly or with trepidation, for Chief Justice Josef Baxa of the Constitutional Court to issue an edict granting Pres. Petr Pavel the right to decide when, where and how he represents the country abroad. Less publicized is the opportunity Baxa will perhaps have to enshrine in law the frequent judicial practice whereby a court issues a vague order to a defendant and then fines the defendant for not complying with the vague order, no matter how he or she responds. Baxa didn't instruct PM Andrej Babiš to make Pres. Pavel the head of the Nato delegation, because Pavel didn't even ask for it, but lawyer Tomáš Nahodil told Právo that Baxa's Court, acting on a new motion from Pavel, could now fine the cabinet up to Kč 100,000 for not obeying the order. Czech TV has already activated its public-media machine to create the proper atmosphere for elevating this practice to the constitutional level. The Court's new ruling could unofficially be called Baxa-22 - damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Glossary of difficult words
trepidation - a feeling of fear or anxiety about something that might happen;
edict - an official order or proclamation issued by a person in authority;
to enshrine - to preserve (a right, tradition or idea) in a form that ensures it will be protected and respected;
to comply - to act in accordance with a wish or command;
damned if you do, damned if you don't - no matter what choice or action you take - or even if you take no action at all - you will face criticism, blame or an unfavorable outcome.