The new government
Eastern approaches 2013-12-20
Summary:
IT IS a clear leftward shift. The emerging Czech governing coalition is pledging to raise pension payments and the minimum wage while eliminating patient fees for visits to the doctor as part of a policy agreement sealed on December 12th. Perhaps more notable is a societal shift: the public is less interested in debating the legacy of Communism and more troubled by the collusion between business and political elites that emerged and persisted in Communism’s aftermath.
October’s general election was the crest of a multi-election wave that saw voters move away from the country’s established political parties in favour of newly formed groups. The biggest beneficiary at the national election was ANO, a party founded by Andrej Babiš, the country’s second-richest man. The populist Usvít (Dawn) reached parliament and nearly 15% of voters voted for the Communists (KSČM).
On a number of fronts, the Czech Republic has been more hesitant than its neighbours to confront its 20th century Communist legacy. An institute charged with...Continue reading