Perhaps.

But all this was really just the culmination of the political fracas that led up to the appointment. Only days earlier, when it still looked as though Klaus would block Rath's appointment, the frustrated doctor hurled insults at Klaus, calling him, among other things, "a crotchety, senile man."

The two have been at odds since the early 1990s, when Rath was hoping to enhance his career as a member of the Civic Democrat Party (ODS), which Klaus headed at the time.

But personal animosity isn't the key issue here: The main reason Klaus refused to name Rath was the inevitable conflict of interest that would have been caused by Rath remaining president of the Czech Medical Chamber (CLK).

It's odd that there was a debate at all as to whether Rath might have a conflict of interest. The CLK is an apolitical, professional organization. Membership for all practicing doctors is obligatory. Thus, there is no doubt that its president must be apolitical as well — something impossible to claim when you are appointed health minister by a ruling political party.

Somewhat disturbingly, Rath downplayed that conflict of interest was a serious issue. In a comment that's probably telling about the state of Czech politics, he said that he has so many friends among doctors and in government positions that conflict of interest was unavoidable anyway.

When Rath finally resigned from his CLK position, he said it was not to avoid conflict but to make a magnanimous gesture to placate the public. According to polls, more than half of the Czech population thought heading both the CLK and the Health Ministry was unethical.

But ethics don't seem to worry Rath, who, as the CLK review committee discovered two years ago, gained his post as head physician based on falsified documents.

For all his faults, it's clear no one can accuse Rath of not being persistent. Before being courted by Prime Minister Jirí Paroubek and the ruling Social Democrats, he tried on several political parties.

As a 25-year-old freshly minted doctor in the early 1990s, he chose the ODS. For three years he tried with little success to get nominated to various positions and then left with disgust in 1994 "because the ODS harms the intellect," he told reporters.

Two years later he tried his luck with the Freedom Union, but he left the party less than two years later and became an independent.

Rath's opponents have mocked him for his careerism and desire to get ahead in politics at almost any cost. But now some people fear the wrath of Rath. He is known for rewarding the faithful and punishing those that have gone up against him in the past.

Even before assuming the post, he threatened to replace Jirina Musílková, the director of the country's biggest insurance company, Vseobecná zdravotní pojistovna, or VZP.

Mere ethical quibbling? Maybe. But now Rath is in a position to directly affect the lives and health of thousands of people who are dependent on the Czech health system, something urgently in need of reform.