Press releases

Just before the election, 34% of those polled said they were satisfied with the political situation in the Czech Republic (‘very satisfied’ – 1%, ‘quite satisfied’ – 33%), whereas 60% expressed dissatisfaction (‘quite dissatisfied’ – 43% and ‘very dissatisfied’ – 17%) and 6% did not know. Compared to the previous month, no statistically important change occurred. Over the course of the last 12 months, the satisfaction with the political situation has oscillated at about 30% of respondents.

When evaluating party preferences in June, the Public Opinion Research Centre employed, compared to surveys conducted in the period between elections, different methods. As was the case in late May, all respondents eligible to vote were on 5 to 12 June 2002 asked a closed question investigating which party they will vote for in the June election to the Chamber of Deputies. The respondents were shown cards with names of all political parties running in the election to the Chamber of Deputies.

The major May events included the planned election to the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic’s Parliament and the election campaign (25%). The following events are also perceived as significant: the conflict between Israel and Palestine (19%), the validity of the Beneš decrees (15%) and the visit of Laura Bush in the Czech Republic (12%). The planned election and the election campaign in particular were first perceived as significant events in March and their importance kept growing as the election date was nearing.

71% of respondents think that the Beneš Decrees should continue to be in force, 4 % stood up for their cancellation. Expulsion is considered to have been just by almost two thirds of respondents (64 %), on the other hand a total of 22 % think it unjust. Compared with last year, the share of those that considered the expulsion to have been just, went up quite distinctly (+17 percentage points), however in 1995 their number was lower by only 12 percentage points.

To clarify how the electorate decides, a May survey of the Public Opinion Research Centre investigated to what extent voters were certain of their party securing sufficient votes to get into the Chamber of Deputies, and how they would behave if not fully certain about it winning seats in the Chamber of Deputies. All those who said which party they wanted to vote for (856 respondents) were asked the following question: ‘Do you think that in the coming election this party will secure sufficient votes to get into the Chamber of Deputies?’ A majority (84%) of respondents are certain that the party of their choice will, whereas 11% are not and 5% do not know.

Within its regular survey, the Public Opinion Research Centre again focused on the level of the public’s confidence in individual constitutional institutions. The president is trusted by 51% and not trusted by 45% of the respondents. It is though still possible to say that the level of confidence in the president has been stable for the period of at least two years. The government was viewed as trustworthy by 43%, the Chamber of Deputies by 29%, the Senate by 23% and regional councils by 29% of the respondents.

Public opinion concerning individual fields of the current government’s work is positive in most cases. For instance the critical evaluation of social topics, which has persisted from the previous electoral terms, was changed after 2002. More favourable views concerned significantly the evaluation of social security and living standards and a little less significantly employment and housing policies.

35% OF THOSE POLLED ARE SATISFIED WITH THE POLITICAL SITUATION, WHEREAS 61% ARE NOT. In late May, 35% of those polled said they were satisfied with the current political situation in the Czech Republic (‘very satisfied’ – 1%, ‘quite satisfied’ – 34%), whereas 61% were dissatisfied (‘quite dissatisfied’ – 47% and ‘very dissatisfied’ – 14%) and 4% did not know. Young people under 19 years of age, students and apprentices, businessmen, citizens with good living standards and respondents having great trust in constitutional institutions tend to be satisfied.

When evaluating party preferences in May, the Public Opinion Research Centre employed, compared to previous surveys, different methods. In a departure from tradition, all respondents eligible to vote were asked a closed question investigating which party they will vote for in the June election to the Chamber of Deputies. The respondents were shown cards with names of all political parties running in the coming election to the Chamber of Deputies.