Czech press survey - October 6

He recalls that Klaus announced "his not departure from politics" in his latest interview for the paper, in which he said he would stay if he were intimidated.

Zverina says Klaus is right in many aspects though the majority has a different opinion and he has been consistent in his conviction, which even his sharpest critics admit.

Nevertheless, during his 23-year career he has changed from a politician with bold plans who is pushing them through with courage into a power man who is helping destroy the party that he himself created and that disappointed him, Zverina writes.

Klaus established the current senior government right-wing Civic Democratic Party s (ODS) and headed it for years.

Zverina points out that Klaus entered politics surrounded by a number of capable, respected experts and now when he is to leave the Presidential Office convinced that all who disagree with him are sick or want to harm the society.

Klaus´s seriously expressed idea of "an airsoft conspiracy" in reaction to an airsoft toy gun attack on him last week gives clear evidence about his change, Zverina writes in conclusion in LN.

Czech voters have still a strong weapon in their hands as only their support will decide who will survive in politics and who must leave it, possibly for good, Alexandr Mitrofanov writes in daily Pravo today.

Political behind-the-scene activities are very diverse. Apart from political parties´ leaderships, various grey eminences, aides as well as influential businessmen are involved in them, along with secret and security services, Mitrofanov indicates.

All these groups have their desire for power, and their effort to convert their influence into money and secure lucrative orders in common, he adds.

However, there is one positive message for citizens who are far away from behind-the-scene games. Visible and invisible political protagonists must first gain votes for themselves of their adherents in elections to materialise their plans.

This is why they are running opulent campaigns to persuade voters, Mitrofanov says.

It still holds good that he whom people reject will end for some time or definitively in politics (at least in its visible sphere). Voters have a strong weapon in their hands," Mitrofanov writes in conclusion.

The renaming of the Prague airport after the late Czech and Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel (1936-2011) has been the best way to honour him, Daniel Kaiser writes elsewhere in Lidove noviny (LN) today.

One great gesture of the grateful society that is visible from a long distance and high altitude is better than a series of small well-considered initiatives that may even be jealous of one another and trivialise one another, Kaiser writes.

In this respect he reminds of a dispute about the organisation of the Vaclav Havel international prize between the Havel Library and the Charter 77 Foundation.

Kaiser says it is true that Havel opened his country to the world and freedom as Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg, Havel´s long-term friend and aide, said at the ceremony at the airport on Friday.

However, there was no need for Schwarzenberg to add, probably as the chairman of the government TOP 09 party, that the country, which opened itself to the world 23 years ago, should not be closing itself from it now, Kaiser writes in LN.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz