The new novel Česká ruleta by the Czech-born Swedish scholar, diplomat and journalist Zdeněk Červenka introduces a theory suggesting that the previous Czech government of Mirek Topolánek foundered in the middle of Czech Republic's EU presidency primarily because of the interests of the gambling industry. The book as such aims to admonish the dangerous clout of the gambling business in the Czech Republic and warn about the risks associated with gambling as such.
“I have always deeply cared about my mother country,” explains the author and adds that through uncovering the maladies and “abnormalities” of the Czech Republic he has actually expressed his patriotism, employing similar techniques of how to cope with the current Czech reality as the latest book by the famous Czech writer Michal Viewegh.
The novel, whose launch has been attended by Věci veřejné MP Josef Novotný or the former minister of education and current head of the non-parliamentary Green Party Ondřej Liška, aims to introduce readers to the inside workings of the gambling mafia. “Reality is, in fact, much harsher” added Liška. A character called Zajíc, an education minister and member of Javora's government appears in the book.
Červenka pointed that he was inspired by documents provided by MP Novotný in particular, who has long advocated stringent restrictions of gambling in the country. “He gave me the data on gambling and it read like a science fiction novel,” explains the writer. “I'm convinced that the government collapsed because of gambling,” said the author.
The former minister Liška added that the interests of the gambling companies could have been one of the several factors contributing to the fall of the government.
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About the author
Zdenek Červenka (1939) is a Swedish academic of Czech origin. After his studies at Charles University's Law Faculty, he earned a PhD degree in Cambridge and became a Candidate of Sciences (ČSAV). Červenka has worked as an Africanist, high government officer in Sweden and a member of several international organisations which review nuclear energy and weapons. His latest endeavour is a behind-the-scenes portrayal of Czech organised crime, an issue that lacks evidence, a topic that nobody seems to want to touch.
