Klaus tints reality to adjust it to his own ideas, plans - press Prague, Jan 2 (CTK) - Czech President Vaclav Klaus seems to have tinted reality in his New Year´s speech in order to adjust it to his own idea of the EU as the main culprit to blame for the deepening economic crisis, Lukas Bek writes in daily Pravo today. In his speech, Klaus evidently decided to keep his statesman-like style for which even his critics praised him during the national mourning for the late Vaclav Havel in the past days, Bek writes. At the same time, nevertheless, he decided to present his ideas that are well known to all, for example that the country is full of competent, clever and hard-working people whose efforts have been hampered by those who inappropriately usurp excessive rights, Bek writes, adding that Klaus may have meant rebelling doctors by this. Elsewhere in his speech, Klaus backed his political disciple, PM Petr Necas, and his centre-right cabinet. He said quick reforms and cuts are urgently needed, though the Czech Republic is actually doing well and faces no threat of Greek type, Bek writes. Klaus voiced satisfaction with cars not being set on fire and shop windows destroyed en masse in the Czech Republic. However, at the same time he called on the cabinet to resort to preventive cuts, which could actually result in similar unrest, Bek says. It would not be Klaus if he did not mention the EU. According to him, the gap between the reality and people´s expectations has now become the biggest since the late 1989 fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. However, there is no relevant evidence to prove that the traditionally sceptical Czechs have ever expected miracles from the EU, Bek points out. Of course, the EU is not flawless, but still it seems that Klaus has tinted reality to adjust it to his own idea that the deepening crisis is to blame on the EU, not on the Klaus-promoted policy of a wise market free of any regulations, Bek writes. The crisis will continue, which Klaus knows well, it stemmed from his words, Bek adds. In his speech, Klaus did not focus on the past only. He slightly indicated who the voters of the future new party (or the old-new Civic Democratic Party, ODS) that is expected to rise under his aegis may be like, Bek writes. First, Klaus criticised what he called groups of pressure, by which he meant unions, that allegedly do not want to understand that they cannot gain more advantages at the cost of others. Simultaneously, however, Klaus indicated that he is interested in plebeians´ support. He said those afflicted by the economic crisis have unfortunately failed to present themselves in the media, Bek writes. Klaus also complained about Czechs being incapable of selecting political leaders and impeding anyone who does not square with others, Bek continues, adding that Klaus might have alluded to people such as controversial ultra-conservative leader Ladislav Batora, whom he defended against critics last year. In his speech Klaus presented his political vision as a tough conservative who promises protection to the working people who are hostile to unions and who are afraid of a wave of foreign immigrants. Klaus presented himself as a statesman who is the first to recognise how dangerous the EU may be, Bek writes. Is there anyone with a better project for the time of economic crisis? he asks with dark sarcasm. rtj/t/kva 