FEBRUARY 2, 1998

P R E S S  R E V I E W

[ January 30 ] [ January 29 ] [ January 28 ] [ January 27 ] [ January 26 ]

Speculations about the likely shape of the next, probably Social Democratic cabinet, and President Havel's position on the Czech political scene. These are the two leading domestic stories. Foreign affairs comment is mainly on Russian President Boris Yeltsin's decision not to run in the elections scheduled for the year 2000.

The left-wing daily PRAVO thinks the opposition Social Democrats had a point at the weekend when they started forming a shadow cabinet. It would of course be better if state affairs were administrated by morally and professionally superior men and women regardless of their political affiliation. But the holy selfishness of Czech political parties effectively precludes such an option, thus relegating idealistic propositions to where they belong, the paper points out.

According to the mass-circulation daily MLADA FRONTA DNES, the Social Democrats who have failed to revamp their election programme in which they promise a heaven on earth, basically face two options. One is to get their feet back on the ground and make a sober assessment of the potentials of this country and its tax- paying population. Or the Social Democrats can contest early elections without attempting to build castles in the air, thereby saving their face, albeit at the expense of the citizen, points out MLADA FRONTA DNES.

Also the liberal daily LIDOVE NOVINY notes that the Social Democrats have dropped some of their election promises. Their leader Milos Zeman has emerged as a skilled negotiator, ready and perfectly willing to accept sensible compromises, unlike his trusted lieutenant Vladimir Spidla.

The middle-of-the road SLOVO shares President Havel's disgust over the recent behaviour of the Czech political establishment. But the paper cannot identify with Havel's attempts to extend his powers at the expense of other, better-controllable state institutions.

ZEMSKE NOVINY believes Havel's new five-year term, which formally began today, will not be a walk in the rose garden, because the president has come under criticism from all parties, including the Social Democrats. But this standard-bearer of morality can still fall back on massive public support, which makes his political critics turn green with envy. The paper thinks Havel should keep his distance from extremist parties, such as the Communists and the far-right Republicans. And for a good reason -- the former party has heavily compromised itself as totalitarian, while ther latter has little to do with Republican ideas.

Turning now to foreign affairs, SLOVO believes that if Boris Yeltsin lives up to his promise not to seek re-election in Russia's presidential polls in the year 2000, his post will probably go either to Premier Viktor Chernomyrdin or to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. The paper points out that in spite of his many shortcomings, Yeltsin has managed to keep Russia in the international political limelight, and to win a measure of trust in the Western world. If he stays away from the presidential race, Russia may plunge into a ruthless power struggle, further aggravating its economic problems, SLOVO concludes. 

Please send us your comments.

RP Home / Radio Prague in English / Press Review

Radio Prague Internet Team
cr@radio.cz

Radio Prague, Vinohradska 12, 12099 Prague 2, Czech Republic
tel (+4202) 240 94 608 * fax (+4202) 242 182 39
WWW http://www.radio.cz/press/