THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- October 27, 2017- Topic 2

Czech churn: on billionaire Andrej Babiš' most likely win

Electing businessmen who claim to offer something better than the established order is not just an American temptation, as the results of last week’s parliamentary election in the Czech Republic show. Billionaire Andrej Babiš’s party ANO (Action for Dissatisfied Citizens, but ano is also Czech for “yes”) won 30% of the vote, making the second richest man in the Czech Republic its most likely future Prime Minister. 

Mr. Babiš’s business ventures include food, chemicals, two of the country’s leading newspapers, radio stations and a news portal. While ANO is part of the outgoing coalition, he established a political foothold on an anti-establishment and anti-corruption platform, promising to cut through cronyism and to run the state more like a business. Ironically, Mr. Babiš himself is embroiled in controversies. He is currently being investigated by the European Union for his alleged misuse of EU subsidies in financing a construction project. How Mr. Babiš, who during the 1980s used to work for a state trading company in what is now Slovakia, established himself so powerfully in the business world following the formation of the Czech Republic in 1993 is unclear. Slovakia’s top constitutional court has recently overturned a decision by lower courts to exonerate him of ties with the StB, the former communist regime’s secret police. This is likely to complicate an already complex situation following last week’s vote, which saw mainstream parties taking a beating. Given the fractured mandate, ANO will need at least two other parties to form a viable coalition.

The Social Democrats, who have led the incumbent government in a coalition with ANO and the Christian Democrats, got just 7.3% of the vote, down from 20.5% in 2013. The election has also seen the growth of the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD), which won about 11% of the vote. The party, run by Tokyo-born Tomio Okamura, wants to take the Czech Republic out of the EU, bring immigration down to zero and ban propagation of Islam. Despite the fact that the Czech economy is doing reasonably well and there is low unemployment, candidates have played on fears around immigration. Mr. Babiš himself used this to his advantage during the campaign. Mr. Babiš has indicated he is pro-EU and pro-NATO but is against the bloc’s migration policies, has ruled out joining the euro and seems to view the EU mostly through the prism of trade. The relationship with Brussels is tense, with the EU already having started infringement proceedings against the country for not accepting its share of migrants to the EU under a 2015 deal. Meanwhile, the fact that Mr. Babiš has transferred his business to a trust does little to assuage concerns over the power he would wield. Those within the republic as well as in the neighbourhood have legitimate cause for concern.

Vocabulary

Temptation: a desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.

Example: He resisted the temptation to call Celia at the office

Synonyms: desire, urge, itch, impulse, inclination

Coalition: an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties forming a government or of states.

Example: A coalition of conservatives and disaffected Democrats

Synonyms: alliance, union, partnership, bloc, caucus, federation, league

Foothold: a place where a person's foot can be lodged to support them securely, especially while climbing.

Example: Twice she had to stop to rest, her arms trembling with the strain, locking her feet into semi-secure footholds and leaning into the rock

Cronyism: the appointment of friends and associates to positions of authority, without proper regard to their qualifications.

Example: This is a government for the insiders, for political appointments and cronyism

Embroiled: involve someone deeply in an argument, conflict, or difficult situation.

Example: She became embroiled in a dispute between two women she hardly knew

Synonyms: involve, entangle, ensnare, enmesh, catch up, mix up, bog down

Exonerate: release someone from a duty or obligation.

Example: At least it exonerated them from their usual role in being unable to hold on to leads.

Synonyms: release, discharge, free, liberate, excuse, exempt, except

Viable: capable of working successfully; feasible.

Example: The proposed investment was economically viable

Synonyms: feasible, workable, practicable, practical, usable, possible, realistic

Propagation: the action of widely spreading and promoting an idea, theory, etc.

Example: A life devoted to the propagation of the Catholic faith

Infringement: the action of breaking the terms of a law, agreement, etc.; violation.

Example: Copyright infringement

Wield: hold and use a weapon or tool.

Example: A masked raider wielding a handgun

Synonyms: brandish, flourish, wave, swing, use, employ, handle

Legitimate: conforming to the law or to rules.

Example: His claims to legitimate authority

Synonyms: legal, lawful, licit, legalized, authorized, permitted