Political Situation

The August floods remained the most important major event reflected in late October. These events followed: elections (including senate and local elections), preparations for the presidential election, the terrorist attack in Bali and events surrounding the elusive shooter in the USA. For the first time since we began monitoring major events, the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union topped the limit of monitoring, being described as one of the most significant recent events by 10% of respondents.

The summer floods became the major recent event reflected at the end of September. These events followed, keeping a considerable distance: the government crisis, elections and the planned attack of the USA and Great Britain on Iraq. As regards domestic political events, the issue of the validity of the Beneš decrees definitely fell in importance; the significance of the elections assessed in late September was on a par with the figures measured in a May survey, three weeks prior to the parliamentary elections.

In late September, 37% of those polled said they were satisfied with the political situation in the Czech Republic (‘very satisfied’ – 2%, ‘quite satisfied’ – 35%), whereas 58% were dissatisfied (‘quite dissatisfied’ – 42% and ‘very dissatisfied’ – 16%) and 5% did not know. Compared to a survey conducted shortly after the election, no major change occurred in respect of satisfaction with the political situation.

The planned election to the Chamber of Deputies became the major event of the first half of June. These events followed, keeping a considerable distance: validity of the Beneš decrees, conflict between Palestine and Israel, tension between India and Pakistan and the terrorist attacks on the USA. In late June and early July, the planned election to the Chamber of Deputies and the post-election situation were perceived as the most important major events, the significance of which can, from a long-term perspective, be compared with the reaction to the terrorist attacks on the USA.

Shortly after the election, 38% of those polled said they were satisfied with the political situation in the Czech Republic (‘very satisfied’ – 3%, ‘quite satisfied’ – 35%), whereas 56% expressed dissatisfaction (‘quite dissatisfied’ – 43% and ‘very dissatisfied’ – 13%) and 6% did not know. Compared to a survey conducted shortly before the election, the level of satisfaction increased by 4 percentage points.

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.

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.

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.

Compared to March when no issue was clearly perceived as the most important one, the public was less ambivalent as to the major events occurring in April. Two major events took place in April, being very close in importance: the validity of the Beneš decrees and the conflict between Israel and Palestine. A fifth of those polled consider both of these events to be the most important recent developments.

In late April, 34% of those polled said they were satisfied with the current political situation in the Czech Republic (‘very satisfied’ – 1%, ‘quite satisfied’ – 33%), whereas 60% were dissatisfied (‘quite dissatisfied’ – 45% and ‘very dissatisfied’ – 15%) and 6% did not know.