Betrayal of Czech voters

Despite their defeat in the local elections, the Civic Democrats (ODS) and the Social Democrats (CSSD) have agreed on a grand coalition in the capital, Prague. In doing so they have booted out the election winner, the conservative TOP 09 party led by Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg. The leftist daily Právo sees this as a cynical move to maintain a grip on power for which they will soon be punished by the voters: "As one of those who brought about the birth of the agreement President Klaus claims the coalition is a rational step. Many citizens on the other hand say the Prague coalition caricatures the elections and makes a mockery of both the voters and democracy. ... Both partners risk the vengeance of the voters. Above all the ODS is in danger of becoming extremely unpopular. ... Should the public resign itself to the situation in Prague it will be proof that we Czechs are content to put up with an 'Italian-style' democracy where divers Mafiosi pull the strings in the background."

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