Choose your dictator

In a comment that went virtually unnoticed, ex-Premier Jiří Paroubek insinuated this week that President Václav Klaus would be acting like a "dictator" if he didn't give ČSSD the second chance to form a government. Such a statement is indicative of how serious Paroubek is about wanting to return to power. Who gets the second chance to form a government if Mirek Topolánek fails is no small matter. If Paroubek were appointed PM but did not win confirmation, he could remain in office until a new cabinet was appointed. The speaker of the House would have the third chance to nominate a PM, but Paroubek and the Communists could block the election of a new speaker, making it virtually impossible to remove Paroubek. He could truly test the bounds of what a "prime minister in resignation" can do. No matter how Klaus decides to proceed after Topolánek fails to win confirmation, it seems that the CR will get its "dictator."