QUOTE, UNQUOTE >
February 2004
Compiled by Anita Lišková

"When we ask his clear opinion, instead of answering he starts to philosophize. Many people just do not understand and then they don't know how to vote."
- head of ČSSD MPs Petr Ibl about the often incomprehensible oration of Vladimír Špidla. The Prime Minister recently stated: "In Voltaire's Candide there is mentioned many times that this world is the best of all possible worlds." Few people could recognize in this a request for permission to send Czech soldiers to Iraq.

"I'm telling you that I don't want any hotdog, and you keep asking me if I'd prefer mustard or ketchup."
- responded KDU-ČSL chairman Miroslav Kalousek to journalists' questions if he would accept the post of Minister of Agriculture.

"This is not an increase of taxes, this is a tax restructuring."
- Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla referring to the tax burden of Czech citizens in the upcoming year.

"Although some social democrats say that my biggest mistake was to recommend Špidla, I keep replying that I did not pick out the best one from good ones, but the least bad one from bad ones."
- Former ČSSD chairman Miloš Zeman regarding current Prime Minister Vladimír Špidla.