Czech is a rich language, and thanks to that we can make a verbal difference between a wise clown and a jester. I hope Langer learned from all the embarassment surrounding the alleged bugging, and that the next time any reporter sends him an SMS saying, for example, that a missile launched from Social Democratic Party Chairman (ČSSD) Jiří Paroubek's cottage will hit the ODS within 24 hours, Langer will not call another press conference to tell the nation about it.

Any word of bugging brings forward two major questions: who's doing it, and how?

Langer didn't answer these questions. He wasn't allowed to. And he was cautious enough to use the word "probably" when spreading the news.

The minister's comedy was staged in such a hurry that we have every reason for concern.

If a senior politician frightens the nation with information so serious, then he should also provide the evidence. Otherwise, his performance very much reminds us of a similar hasty piece staged before the polls — the Kubice report [which linked the ČSSD to the underworld].

What exactly is the average consumer of news to do with such information? Should he believe what Paroubek said earlier, that there is to be another discreditation campaign against him and the ČSSD? Should we trust Langer to provide the evidence?

One thing is more than obvious: Langer's "revelation" came exactly one month before the Senate and municipal polls. Another thing is very disturbing: the effort of the country's temporary leaders, the ODS government, to implement changes in secret services at a time when the Chamber's control mechanisms are not working properly, and also prior to a vote of confidence. All this when the lower house lacks committees to look into any serious allegations, Verner writes.

According to Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlustý, public finances are in a bad state, Karel Steigerwald writes in Mladá fronta Dnes Sept. 22.

His predecessor, Bohuslav Sobotka, claims this is not true.

The state of public money is apparently a fiery political discussion. Opinions of the budget correspond with the results of the June election and not with reality.

The problem is that people can't have different opinions on numbers, and finances are numbers. Money is either there or it's not, no matter what opinion there is. Political argument about the state of public finances doesn't make sense. It's not a matter of opinion.

Public finances are a difficult and unclear issue, apparently. But Tlustý should explain the state of public finances as soon as possible. And Sobotka should also come up with an explanation as to how they got this way. Both should be direct: Is there or isn't there money, and how much? That way we would find out who's lying and who isn't. Then we wouldn't need to set cars on fire in the streets like the passionate Hungarians, Steigerwald writes.