It's a sensible decision. Court trials on various lies won't go anywhere. But it wouldn't be Paroubek the fighter if he didn't use the apology as a threat: "I will consider filing criminal complaints for each of their articles that strongly attacked me," he said. He also attacked the secretary of International Federation of Journalists, Aidan White, who apparently has not read the Czech press.

Paroubek's problem isn't that he scolds somebody. That's typical of anyone who's angry. The problem is that the prime minister deeply and philosophically fails to understand what freedom of speech, press, criticism and open society are. It's probably because of his cultural experience and character. In the case of an important politician who should care about freedom, it's serious. He doesn't know that he can't sue people for their opinions and that people are free in their thinking. I'll criticize Paroubek publicly until he changes, because I'm expressing my opinion. He can criticize not threaten me.

He's right about one thing, and I agree: Pre-election incidents that are mysterious and abhorrent must be investigated. The investigation shouldn't be about blaming those who set someone up, but should focus on what happened and who did what. It's more important to investigate cases than criticisms made when someone was angry.

Honorary Civic Democratic (ODS) chairman and President Václav Klaus held an hour-long discussion with Prime Minister Jiří Paroubek after which the two told journalists there was absolutely no discussion of a possible grand coalition between the ODS and Paroubek's Social Democrats (ČSSD) — and those naive enough might actually say they believe this, Pavel Verner writes in Právo June 9.

The grand coalition hymn is heard in the distance, and lobbyists, who aren't against a 155-member majority in Parliament, are entering the arena. The poor Christian Democrats and Green Party! The three right-leaning parties can try to form a coalition twice. However, they'll be a like a hen chased by a rooster, thinking: I'll run around one more time so he doesn't get the idea that I'm easy to get. The objection that the ODS and ČSSD programs are too opposite for a coalition? The ČSSD already moved closer to the ODS's flat-tax idea. Paroubek said he wants the president to conduct the negotiations. The same president who always wished for a stable government and in the past proved pretty good at fighting for the cause.

Klaus celebrates his 65th birthday June 19 and his success in negotiating a grand coalition would make the celebration bigger. ODS Chairman Mirek Topolánek could be left without a chance. Fellow party members Ivan Langer and Vlastimil Tlustý aren't on Topolánek's negotiating team — perhaps they have a hunch that, aside from missing his shot at forming a "majority" government, Topolánek might not even be Paroubek's partner in forming a grand coalition. The reason being given is his pre-election implacability; the real one is Klaus' dislike for Topolánek. All Paroubek has to do is insist on a different partner from the ODS. Klaus' pet, Pavel Bém, a mountaineer with whom Paroubek worked at Prague City Hall, might be in training for reaching the highest peak in his career, Verner writes.