When Václav Moravec bows out
After announcing his departure from the OVM debate show on Sun., with the outro still playing, Václav Moravec gave a man hug to his final guest, ex-CNB Gov. Jiří Rusnok. Viewers got a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes reality of Moravec's version of "free and independent" public media. Rusnok had become one of Moravec's most-frequent guests, taking over from Tomáš Prouza, but despite his many appearances, Rusnok never had to face tough questions about why he signaled to speculators that he was extending the devaluation of the crown or why he later gave these same speculators another slam dunk by adopting a policy of interest-rate revaluation. Moravec used his prominent position to cultivate a coterie of important friends - others were Pavel Rychetský and Lenka Bradáčová - who engaged in off-air intrigue and on-air moralizing. Members of the clique have now lost a major protective shield and will need to get used to looking over their shoulders as the old rules of the game stop applying.
Glossary of difficult words
to bow out - to withdraw or retire from an activity or role;
outro - the concluding section of a piece of music or a radio or television program;
glimpse - a brief insight or indication; a momentary or partial view;
slam dunk - a "sure thing" investment opportunity regarded as a foregone conclusion with a guaranteed positive outcome and minimal risk;
coterie - a small group of people with shared interests or tastes, esp. one that is exclusive of other people;
clique - a small close-knit group of people who do not readily allow others to join them;
to look over one's shoulder - to be watchful or wary of danger.