The poll revealed, inter alia, that the Czech public considers petitions to be an almost generally acceptable form of protest pressure (only 10% of those polled stated they would never sign a petition), and that the majority is not opposed to boycotts or legal demonstrations. On the other hand, harsher methods of expressing dissatisfaction, such as participation in an unofficial strike, are openly supported by only three persons out of ten, while protests involving occupation of buildings are deemed acceptable by just over one tenth of the population.

In a June poll called ‘Czech society 2003’, we paid close attention to the functioning of the public administration and self-administration bodies, and to the public opinion on how legislation and the conduct of politicians can be influenced. The first question generally addressed satisfaction with the functioning of democracy. The following question dealt with satisfaction with personnel employed in the state and public sectors.

90% of those polled agree that, before making major decisions, public administration bodies should be interested in the opinion of citizens, as opposed to 7% who think that public administration bodies are here to make decisions and should not bother citizens and ask for their opinion. To a certain extent, the opinion of citizens is actively sought by local administration bodies only, while citizens are unaware of activities of other bodies of the public administration.

The June survey allocated some of its space for opinions of respondents on situation of the owners of small and medium size enterprises. The results show that two fifths (41%) consider the objections raised by the concerned groups to be justified. 28% think the opposite and almost a third (31%) do not feel to be competent to judge. Those respondents who believe that the objections raised by entrepreneurs were justified also commented on the question if certain bodies should help to solve their problems.

In a June survey, we focused on what citizens think about the funding of political parties. Approved by 94% of respondents, membership fees are the most supported form of funding. Financial donations from party sympathisers received approval from only a slightly smaller percentage of respondents (87%). 71% of those polled approve of contributions from sponsors and interest groups and the majority of people (58%) also agree that parties should be able to have income from own business activities.

In its June survey, the Public Opinion Research Centre investigated the attitudes of respondents towards political parties and their role in society. The survey included two extensive aggregates of statements and those polled were asked to express their approval or disapproval with each one of them. Further two questions dealt with the issue of internal plurality within political parties. The comparison of the results obtained reveals a certain discrepancy in public opinions: on the one hand, the majority of respondents (67%) think that divergence of opinions should not occur within parties, but on the other hand most respondents (59%) are also persuaded that members of parliament should vote according to their own opinion and not according to what has been agreed within the party.

Those polled consider television to be the trustworthiest institution (trusted by 66%), followed by their mayor (61%), the president of the republic (60%) and newspapers in general (60%). The majority of the population also trusts the army (57%) and the police (55%). Roughly two fifths of those surveyed expressed trust in courts, trade unions and their regional president. The prime minister and churches are trusted by approximately a third of respondents.

Forty five percent of people above 15 years of age in the CZ can cook a wide range of meals. On the contrary, 27 % of respondents admitted they could not cook at all. In our society, there are approximately 19 % of households, in which both partners take turns in cooking. Predominantly women cook in households, they themselves admit it in 67 % of cases. Women, more often than men, were taught cooking by their mothers or grandparents, men, more often than women, learnt cooking from their fathers.

At least several times a week, meals are cooked in 9 out of 10 households, only 8 % of respondents said that they only cooked several times a month or even less. Three quarters of the population eat in restaurants at least several times a month, while every fifth respondent admits that their family does not eat in restaurants at all. From the point of view of a healthy and regular diet, it is not a very good finding that 5 % of Czechs do not have breakfast and the same number misses lunch.

Within the May survey Public Opinion Research Centre concentrated on the topic of traditional Czech cuisine. The research included a section of questions devoted to finding out which traditional regional meals respondents know and if they themselves cook them. From the results it arises that people most often consider as regional meals – potato pancakes, potato cakes, kulajda (cream of mushroom soup), kyselo (mushroom sour cream sauce), cakes and goulash, and they also most frequently cook these meals in their household.