Political Situation

Dissatisfaction with the current state of affairs outweighs satisfaction in all the monitored areas except the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union. The greatest dissatisfaction is expressed in respect of the current unemployment rate. Over four fifths of those polled are dissatisfied and a half of Czech citizens very dissatisfied with the current unemployment rate. Three quarters of respondents also voiced their dissatisfaction with the extent of corruption in our country and approximately 6 out of 10 Czech citizens gave a negative assessment of the functioning of the Czech economy and the quality of social security.

In early December, 15% of those polled were satisfied with the political situation, whereas 54% expressed dissatisfaction. 28% of respondents were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. The level of dissatisfaction has reached its highest since 2003 when we started asking the question in a new manner. As regards political orientation, the level of satisfaction is higher among sympathisers of the CSSD (32%) and the ODS (18%).

Those surveyed believe that especially the situation in the health sector must be tackled now. They hold the opinion that crime in the country requires exceptionally urgent action too. Moreover, unemployment and social policies also belong to the dominant social problems. In terms of the importance of an urgent solution, the environment and taxes are considered a slightly less important issue. The problem of coming to terms with the past (vetting), and moral and ethical issues, such as abortions and registered partnership, are viewed as less important among the monitored areas.

Of all the monitored areas, citizens took the most negative view of the current state of corruption and security. A substantial majority of those polled (two thirds in the event of corruption) voiced their dissatisfaction with these issues. The prevalence of dissatisfaction is also quite noticeable in the assessment of the judicature and the state of the legal environment. A more critical than positive assessment is given to one’s own possibilities to participate in the decision-making process about public affairs and the functioning of authorities.

In September, 14% of those surveyed were satisfied with the political situation, which is a drop by 6 percentage points when compared to June. 29% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, while 52% of respondents were dissatisfied – an increase by 7 percentage points since June. People with good living standards and young people who do not yet have the right to vote more frequently belonged to the group of the satisfied.

In late June, 20% of those polled were satisfied with the political situation, 32% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied and 45% of respondents were dissatisfied. People with good living standards and young people under 30 years of age more frequently belonged to the group of the satisfied. As regards political orientation, the level of satisfaction is higher among sympathisers of the ODS, CSSD and the KDU-CSL.

In April, 18% of those polled were satisfied with the political situation, while 31% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. 47% of respondents voiced dissatisfaction. 59% of respondents said they were satisfied with their life, whereas 25% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. 18% of those polled considered themselves dissatisfied.

As regards the activities of the state, there is widespread belief that no major developments occurred during last year. 45% to 58% of respondents are of the opinion that no progress was made in respect of the protection of human rights, fight with crime, immigration policy, economic and foreign policy and environmental care. The greatest criticism is levelled against the employment policy (64%) and the agricultural policy (47%).

In as assessment of the current state of some affairs and developments in our country, the environment became most positively evaluated area, receiving 36% of favourable opinions, 14% of unfavourable opinions; while roughly a half of respondents were unable to decide. In all other instances, the number of dissatisfied usually outweighed the number of satisfied by a large margin. The respondents were highly critical of the health sector (35%) and the functioning of authorities (33%).

The major event of early February 2003 was the presidential election the importance of which equalled that of the election to the Chamber of Deputies in late June and early July 2002. This event was followed by the planned attack of the USA and Great Britain on Iraq, the Columbia shuttle disaster and the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union. The major event earlier that year, the 2002 floods, remained above the five percent limit of monitoring, along with the possible deployment of our soldiers in Iraq.