When You Reach The Bottom Of A Hole . . . .

Havel enrages Poland by proposing early elections
Former Czech president Vaclav Havel has angered Polish politicians as he said he was not carefully watching the latest developments in Poland, but early elections with international observers should be held there as soon as possible, the Polish daily Rzeczpospolita reported Tuesday.

WARNING: GENIUS AT WORK.

The idea has upset Polish politicians from all parties, the daily writes.

Havel defended the idea of the elections monitoring in today's statement for daily Gazeta Wyborcza, but he apologised to those who might interpret his words as an offence.

"I have the impression that free elections should be held as fast as possible," Havel said when launching the Polish edition of his latest book Strucne, prosim (Briefly please) in Cracow.

Nothing like having a writer with an impression.

"I believe it would be in the interest of all Poles and Polish democracy, if international observers were invited," Havel said, adding that early elections and the presence of observers were nothing shameful.

"If someone in Poland has comprehended my marginal remark as an attack on Polish democracy, an expression of doubts about Polish democracy or even an offence of the Poles, then I am naturally very sorry for it and I apologise very much," Havel said in his statement for Gazeta Wyborcza that Havel's offices provided for CTK.

Just what in Hell kind of reaction did you think they'd have?

"But I think that there really do not exist two types of democracies, the ones that are imperfect and that need observers, and the others that are perfect and that do not need them and that even consider the idea of being monitored offensive," Havel told Gazeta Wyborcza.

He said sending observers to elections is one of the good international habits and that every mutual check, if solid, without a bad motive and without a beforehand prepared conclusion "is in our common interest."

It would truly speak to the common interest if you'd STFU, fool.

Havel's spokesman Jakub Hladik told CTK he saw no reason to comment on the reactions by Polish politicians and Polish press to Havel's statement.

Of course not. Why should the man who was more interested in reaching an accomodation with the Communist regime, rather than Czech freedom, apologize for something so minor as pissing off the Czech's closest friend and ally?

Former Polish president and critic of the current government Lech Walesa said it was a good thing that a neighbour, a prominent politician, took interest in Polish events.

"However, I think we can manage our affairs without the advice. There is no threat here of what goes on in the Third World or in dictatorships," Walesa said.

Zbigniew Romaszewski, a Senator for the ruling Polish party Law and Justice, said Havel's statement was out of place.

"I regret it as I know Havel a bit. I have always held him in high esteem," Romaszewski said.

The daily said many Polish politicians were of the view that Havel had been misinformed on the current situation in Poland.

In diplomatic-speak, they view Havel as being merely piss-ignorant. Sad state of affairs for a man so involved with Charter 77.

A part of the Polish radical opposition wants to make the most of its past contacts, including Havel's poor knowledge, it said.

"Hatred for the government of the Kaczynski brothers has so much blinded its foes that instead of toppling them rapidly, they are willing to accept any help," Rzeczpospolita writes.

Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra told the paper he saw no jeopardy to democracy in Poland.

Vondra said he saw no necessity to invite international observers to the Polish elections.

A similar position was voiced by other Czech politicians and experts.

"I think Havel has exaggerated this," Czech analyst Rudolf Kucera said.

What is going on in Poland, does not have the character of any dramatic political crisis, Kucera said.

Early elections started to be talked about in Poland after the summer collapse of the governing coalition. The decision may be made on Friday when a vote on the dissolution of parliament is to be taken.

Heh. And Havel just may have unified the Polish government.

But one question comes to mind: Will Havel have same or similar words about the 2008 Soviet Russian presidential election?