Pátek 29. března 2024, svátek má Taťána
130 let

Lidovky.cz

Is Donald Duck the ideal Social Democrat leader?

  13:04

According to many top managers surveyed by Czech Position, Michal Hašek should emerge as the Social Democrats’ leader

Based on responses from 136 top managers in the Czech business community. foto: Česká pozice

The 36th conference of the left-wing Czech Social Democrats (ČSSD) is set to take place March 18–19. One of the most important items on the agenda will be the election of a new party leader. On Friday, the current acting leader Bohuslav Sobotka and Michal Hašek, the South Moravia governor and chairman of the Regional Association of the Czech Republic, will be vying for the top party post.

So far, seven out of 14 regional conferences have voted for the nomination of Sobotka as party leader; an equal number have voted for his opponent Hašek. Thus, the chances for victory by either candidate are roughly even, although Sobotka is viewed as a slight favorite. However, according to a Voice of the Elite survey of top business managers carried out by Czech Position, 40.6 percent thought that Hašek would make a better ČSSD leader than Sobotka.

One respondent gave preference to Sobotka, but also had harsh words for the current acting head of the party: “I am from South Moravia, and I know both candidates for the Social Democratic leadership. Michal Hašek is from Drásov and is a typical member of the flock — both a governor and a member of Parliament at the same time. Bohuslav Sobotka is formerly from Slavkov near Brno. He may have recently moved to Prague, but he still holds a chair in the Slavkov local authority,” the manager said.

‘Neither has ever worked properly; neither has practical experience.’

“Both are young and have are educated in law. Neither has ever worked properly [outside of politics]; neither has practical experience. After completing their educations, both were immediately elected to Parliament and since then have had a variety of political posts. Neither has vision, and it’s quite possible that they even know what vision is. And a leader without vision is like a day without the sun. It is indicative of the moral crisis and impoverishment within ČSSD to have to choose from these two candidates.” 

The respondent continued: “If I had to choose between Sobotka and Hašek, then my choice would certainly be Sobotka. He may be a little slower in his thought processes, but his character is primarily good-natured — someone who occasionally will heed the advice of others. As a rule, he doesn’t stick his nose into things he doesn’t understand. When he promises something, he usually keeps his word,” the manager said.

“Hašek is an entirely different cup of tea. He will promise anyone anything, but I’ve yet to meet someone to whom he kept his word. He knows how to smile amiably and how to make sweeping gestures for the television cameras, but that is about all. … But it takes longer before a person discovers his true nature. And that is why he makes a far more sympathetic initial impression on most people than Sobotka. Basically, he has a better PR sense. And not only that: he detests having competent people around him. Primarily those who could one-day ‘outgrow’ him,” the manager continued.

“Thus, a choice of leader from these two candidates seems like a crazy dream to me. I sincerely wish that ČSSD wakes up quickly and elects a sensible leader,” the manager concluded.

No life outside politics

Two other top managers expressed a preference for Hašek, but with serious reservations. The first said: “Here are my reasons why neither of the candidates is satisfactory – Bohuslav Sobotka is a person who has never worked. He may have been at the top of the party leadership along with [former ČSSD leader] Jiří Paroubek, but he acts as if he wasn’t. He was a terrible finance minister [under the last Social Democrat-led government]. And he is also a coward who instead of returning a slap in the face would deliberately allow himself to be hospitalized in order to report the person,” this manager said.

‘He is also a coward who instead of returning a slap in the face would deliberately allow himself to be hospitalized.’

“Michal Hašek’s levels of morality are somewhere down in the cellar. He too hasn’t experienced the work process in his life. To all of his current positions, he would certainly like to add the post of prime minister and in time, end up occupying all the posts in the government. That being the case, we might as well directly choose a czar. However, if I had to choose from these two men, then it would certainly be Hašek as I really have no time for cowards and informants,” this manager concluded.

The second of the business managers favoring Hašek was also not impressed by their lack of real-life experience: “Our political scene needs good social democracy! Whether it’s Slávek (short for Bohuslav) or Michal, is essentially meaningless. In both cases, it will only be a temporary fix. The ČSSD needs someone completely different. I know these ‘lads’ and both lack a key trait – any kind of practical life experience,” this manager said.

“When I was once surrounded by ‘young conservatives,’ I asked them why they were moving in the gloomy backstage corridors of Parliament when they were only 20 years old. ‘We want to be in politics,’ they said. To that I replied: ‘Politics is the application of life experiences, gentlemen! Go and enter business, meet girls, drink beer and listen to trade talk, play football and avoid tripping up during all that. Only then enter politics!’ Sadly, neither Slávek nor Michal ever did this. Though, of the two, I prefer Michal,” this manager concluded.

Neither is the best choice

The following three respondents could not bring themselves to endorse either of the two candidates. “It probably makes no difference who it is, so long as they’re merely in politics to do business, as was the case with the last two ČSSD leaders — Stanislav Gross or Jiří Paroubek. Bohuslav Sobotka is a brilliant analyst and is able to communicate information and his opinions in an understandable manner. His disadvantage is the somewhat ‘dry’ and dull impression that he creates during his public performances,” the first said.

‘It probably makes no difference who it is.’

“Michal Hašek’s assets are a closeness to people and managerial abilities, albeit ones that he has always failed to utilize because he lacks an ability to structure. If ČSSD managed to combine these two figures into one person and utilize the aforementioned positive traits of either, they would have a very good leader,” the first concluded.

“As was shown by elections in Prague, the strategy of pulling out of a hat an entirely new leader works, and would certainly also benefit ČSSD. Sobotka looks smooth, but he represents neither a new face, nor is he a representative figure free of problems stemming from the past – as finance minister, he notably increased public debt; as a top [government] official,  he assisted during various historical ‘cases’ of the party and also has close ties to lobbyists. Hašek may well come across as a new face, but it is possible that both he and his people could be tarnished by numerous problems from [his days in] Brno,” the second manager said.

The third answered wryly: “A question seeking to know whether I want to cut off my arm, poke out an eye or amputate half my brain is one that I really cannot answer.”

Another face is needed

Two other respondents argued that someone other than the current candidates would make the best ČSSD leader:

“Neither Hašek, nor Sobotka are leadership types. ČSSD presently lacks a true personality that could fulfill the requirement of an undisputable leader of such a notable party and who could also become prime minister,” the first said.

‘Neither Hašek, nor Sobotka are leadership types.’

“ČSSD rid itself of its best leader. That person was Miloš Zeman. He was able to gain the votes of communists on the one hand, and on the other, not lose the support of left-wing intellectuals. Now ČSSD must wait to see if a similar figure emerges from Sobotka or Hašek. That will surely be a long wait,” said he second.

In a further three cases, an alternative third choice for ČSSD leader was clearly favored:

“The best ČSSD leader would be someone who secures further voter losses for the party and who would lead it toward an overwhelming electoral defeat. Neither Hašek nor Sobotka fully meet these requirements and that is why someone else would be better. Perhaps Jiří Paroubek. In that case, the situation would be rather perfect,” said a manager who was clearly not a fan of the party.

“For example, Martin Pecina,” said someone, giving a practical suggestion of the interior minister from the caretaker Cabinet of Jan Fischer and the former head of the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS)

“Donald Duck,” said someone, without elaboration.

The following three top managers chose to support Michal Hašek:

‘Sobotka misused parliamentary reimbursements in order to purchase an apartment.’

“Hašek is communicative. Sobotka has never achieved anything. He just keeps ‘blathering’ on,” said one. 

“Sobotka misused parliamentary reimbursements in order to purchase an apartment. In his greed, he held on to his privileges, but he forgot that it was a right to have expenses reimbursed, so long as these existed. But in his case, it wasn’t expenses. He used funds for property — thus, he robbed the state. With that kind of a mindset, he has no business being in politics. There’s no public dirt on Hašek. His studies in Slovakia were evidently motivated by ethical considerations to not exploit his political connections in Brno,” the second said.     

“If I had to choose from these two, then Hašek. On the one hand, he’s at least done something in life other than working in the upper echelons of politics, and on the other, he isn’t tarnished with any great scandals — the misuse of parliamentary expense reimbursements, suspicious privatizations. He also apparently does not lie as overtly as Sobotka. For me, the Social Democrats are far better represented by people like Jaroslav Foldyna, Miloš Zeman, Martin Tesařík and Petr Kajnar, than these parlor politicians,”  the third said.

Party unity above all

The following respondent provided an alternative answer, expressing a vision for the future of politics in the Czech Republic:

‘I would also welcome the participation of David Rath.’

“Both [men] must be in the leadership, otherwise ČSSD will be threatened with division. Each of them possesses something that the other lacks. So long as it works out, they should be working in tandem. If only one wing wins, then the result will be [an internal] war. And then everyone will lose,” this manger said.

“I would also welcome the participation of [former Health Minister and current Central Bohemian Governor] David Rath. Whatever his outwardly manner, they nonetheless need him. He has carried the burden of some of the toughest jobs and I suspect that he can also provide help in financial matters. No one else comes into consideration. After the stabilization of ČSSD and its leadership, we should expect a grand coalition,” the manager concluded.

Akční letáky
Akční letáky

Všechny akční letáky na jednom místě!