Flinching in the Turek game of chicken
Czech politics appears to be heading toward a five-way game of chicken over the nomination of MP Filip Turek as foreign minister. Racing down the road toward each other from various angles are the Motorists, who have so far refused to sacrifice their mascot; future PM Andrej Babiš, who will have to decide whether to swerve or to put the pedal to the metal if Pres. Petr Pavel rejects Turek; Pavel himself, who built an escape clause into his speech on Tues. night for such circumstances but might not be able to rely on Babiš to eject Turek when it comes down to the wire; politicians, individuals and civic groups on the "right" side of everything who will be Pavel's conscience if he starts getting weak knees; and "deplorables" on the "wrong" side of everything who might decide that the Turkish horde, even if not their cup of tea, is worth supporting on principle. There is no win-win-win-win-win situation this time. Whoever flinches first will become not a national champion or unifier, but rather a - forgive the language - chickenshit who talks a big game but isn't prepared to put his money where his mouth is when the going gets tough.
Glossary of difficult words
to flinch - to make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to fear or pain;game of chicken - a game in which the first person to lose his or her nerve and withdraw from a dangerous situation is the loser;
to swerve - to change or cause to change direction abruptly;
to put the pedal to the metal - to go at full speed (with reference to pressing the accelerator of a car to the floor);
escape clause - a contract provision which specifies the conditions under which a party can be freed from an obligation;
to go/come down to the wire - used to denote a situation whose outcome is not decided until the very last minute;
weak knees - weak and shaky as a result of fear or excitement;
deplorables - worthless or contemptible people;
horde - a large group of people; an army or tribe of nomadic warriors;
chickenshit - a coward; a worthless or contemptible person;
to talk a big game - to make promises that seem outlandish to the listener;
to put one's money where one's mouth is - to show by one's actions that one's words are meant seriously.