Re: Hope: a new party for Slovakia, Flash News, January 23, 2006
I suspect that Zúfalstvo ("the last gasp" as a very free translation) would have been a better name, though NANO (Nové ANO) could well capture its political significance. ANO as it was owed most of its support to the talent of one Pavol Rusko for raising controversy and "getting things done" (usually at great expense).
Malchárek is one of the most entertaining unintentional clowns in Slovak politics. Does anyone remember the time this "liberal" inserted a nannyish clause into a law making it compulsory for all vehicles to have snow tyres fitted during winter?
The law proved to be unworkable when all the big bus companies said they could not afford to comply and Malchárek had to organize for it to be withdrawn, defending himself that he had not really thought about the consequences.
Funny, but even with his new, ministerial habit of wearing glasses, which Pavol Prokopovič [transport minister] has also taken up, (was this in that World Bank advice?) he is never going to be a leader.
Still with a bit of money and flashy adverts, Malchárek and co might draw off votes from other "anti-Dzurinda" centre parties (rump ANO and Martináková's Free Forum) and keep them out of parliament, which is useful to someone.
Personally, I'm looking forward to Ľubomír Lintner's memoirs. If one person is going to dish all the dirt on the "reform coalition" he is surely the one with enough bile to do it.
Roger,
Žilina, Slovakia
