02 March 2009

The grass is never greener

Cynicism about the political present and future of Hungary is probably at an all-time high (at least since 1989), in no small part because of fiscal mismanagement/budgetary woes, recently highlighted by a huge IMF infusion to bolster the rapidly sinking forint. The other day, i was talking with someone about the economy here and he compared Hungary in very unfavorable terms to the Czech Republic: "at least they have a reasonable political situation there." So, it's been interesting to read this interview with former Czech spy Karl Koecher, who seems to view most developments in CZ through a lens of historical corruption. At one point, he cites Transparency International recently listing CZ as being equal in corruption practices as Nigeria, although i personally could not locate that source on their site. Hungarians, however, might take note that CZ is only slightly higher in the Corruptions Perception Index (CZ 45, HU 47) and so even if from the outside, Prague may seem more functional - if not rational - than Budapest, the Czechs themselves are nearly on par with the Hungarian cynics. Both countries are now struggling with the east-west EU divide, hoping that inclusion in the Eurozone will be speeded up in order to reduce protectionist measures by the Western bloc (seems unlikely).

When asked his view on the Czech EU presidency, Koecher replied, "Not to appear as incompetent parochial dummies, but I am afraid that this is a task well above the head of the current Czech government." Comments from any Praguites in the room???

Koecher also had this to say about the US missile defense radar system which continues to be strongly lobbied AGAINST by an alliance of Czech mayors and 70% of its citizens:
In my opinion, the primary motive behind the plans to build it had been the now defunct desire to provide lucrative business deals to firms supporting President Bush. If the US still discusses the plan with the Russians, it is, in my opinion, only to negotiate the price for which it will be willing to formally bury it.
Let's hope his crystal ball is coughing up a reality, even though diminishing US military investments in the East are not going to help the economies in the short term.

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