Stanislav Gross remains at the top of the chart (he enjoys confidence of 72% of the respondents), followed by ministers Tvrdík (60%) and Buzková (59%). The following ranks are occupied by prime minister Špidla and president Havel (both 54%). Trustworthiness of Senate chairman Petr Pithart and minister Dostál has significantly grown up next to the level of 50 % (both scored 48%).

In comparison with the results from November, resp.

From our surveys we know that this summit was the most important event at the end of November and beginning of December, and still in January it was named among the most significant recent events by 22 % of respondents to this research. We were interested in how people rated this event. It was predominantly valued by people favourably; a “definitely positive” or “mostly positive” opinion was shared by 56 % of respondents.

In the case of losing a job, people would usually look for a new one, usually a specific job that would correspond to their idea of a new job defined in advance (53%). Approximately two fifths of respondents (42%) on the other stated that they would look for any job in this situation and the remaining 5% answered that they did not know. 76% said that they would be willing to undergo re-training if this was a condition necessary to acquire new employment, 71% said they would be willing to work overtime, 69% would agree to a higher work pace, 55% to a transfer to less qualified work, 48% to work at weekends, 41% would agree to shorter working hours, 37% to night shifts, 36% to worse pay, 25% to worse working conditions, 21% to a longer daily commuting time, and 13% to the need to move.

The president of the republic is trusted by 58 % and not trusted by 39% of Czech citizens. The level of confidence in the president has been relatively stable since 1999 and is regularly above the 50% limit.

The government of Vladimír Špidla enjoys confidence of 49 % and is not trusted by 47 % of the respondents. This was the fourth survey of the coalition cabinet trustworthiness level and it has again confirmed the previous surveys – the level of trustworthiness still remains much higher than the one expressed to the leaving Zeman’s cabinet in July (43 %).

Liberal answers prevailed for questions relating to marriage and partnership, on the other hand the last statements relating to parenthood and bringing up children were answered with conservative opinions. The most controversial question was the one asking for the opinion on justification of an abortion, if there is a risk to the health of the woman or the child. On this issue, respondents equally split into same-sized opposing groups.

When comparing the actual data and the ideal there is a certain problem lying in the fact that while the survey covers respondents of all age categories over 15 years of age, people involved in reproduction are aged mostly between 20 to 35 years of age. Therefore, the opinions of the youngest respondents, in our case people under 30, are decisive. Compared with the other respondents, this group also partially differed in its opinions, when they more often consider 30 years or more to be the ideal age of newly-weds and mothers of the first child.

In the January Public Opinion Research Centre survey, a question from the ISSP international survey, which took place in the Czech Republic in 1999, was used. The target was to establish if and how the opinions of the public about premarital and out-of-marriage sex as well as sex between partners of the same sex had changed. Premarital sexual activities were valued in the most tolerant way, out-of-marriage sexual relations of married women and men are not seen that forgivingly.

Citizens still have the persisting concept of a man – the breadwinner and on the other hand a woman looking after the household and children. Particularly, the man should financially support the family. Then there are activities, which should be carried out by both partners, or should belong more to men – pursuit of a professional career, further education, getting involved in social functions, initiative in sex, hobbies.

The floods became the most significant event of early 2003, followed by the developments connected with the end of the presidential mandate of Václav Havel. The third position was taken by the planned attack of the USA and Great Britain on Iraq, the NATO Summit in Prague and the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union. These developments were closely followed by the election. The importance of foreign political events grew in January, despite the fact that the planned attack on Iraq was the only development to make it to the ‘big’ foreign and political events with a minimum of 5% reflection.

The relations with Poland (89 %) and Slovakia (89 %) are most frequently considered to be good. Moreover, there is a relatively high share of positive opinions concerning relations with Hungary (82 %) and Germany (79 %). Relations with Austria are seen significantly less favourably, (where 48 % of respondents rate them as good and 49 % view them negatively).

Relations with Poland and Slovakia are considered to be good on a steady basis.