Election, parties

60% of respondents read at least sometimes about politics in newspapers (a total of ‘often’ and ‘sometimes’ answers), whereas 11% do not. At least a half of respondents at least sometimes discuss politics with friends but 74% of those polled never persuade their friends to adopt the same opinion. Almost 80% of respondents get ‘hardly ever’ or ‘never’ involved in solving public problems.

No major sociodemographic differences occurred in respect of CSSD supporters (22%), except a higher percentage of white-collar employees. The ODS (20%) is attractive primarily for respondents with good living standards and voters with university or full secondary education. The party also occupies a strong position among businessmen and tradesmen, white-collar employees, intellectual workers and among Prague inhabitants.

Governments of the CSSD and the Coalition (22%) or the ODS and the Coalition (20%) belong to the most acceptable post-election coalitions.

The results clearly reveal that the ODS and the CSSD stand the greatest chance of succeeding in the election, and in this respect there are not any significant differences between them. Almost three quarters of respondents think that both of these parties belong to the two most successful ones, with a difference occurring only in respect of their position. In contrast, citizens are of the opinion that the Coalition stands a significantly lesser chance of succeeding, expected to come first or second only by a tenth of respondents, while approximately the same percentage of respondents think that the KSCM will achieve the same results.

No major sociodemographic differences occurred in respect of CSSD supporters (25%), except a higher percentage of white-collar employees. The ODS (23%) is attractive primarily for respondents with good living standards and voters with university or full secondary education. The party also occupies a strong position among businessmen and tradesmen, white-collar employees, intellectual workers and among Prague inhabitants.

The public considers the ODS and the CSSD to be two equal champions in the election, while not so many people believe in the success of the former Four-Coalition. It is widely believed that the election will not result in a change in the current state of affairs.

The ODS and the CSSD obtained most votes (both 19%) in the assessment of political personalities. In this respect, the results of the ODS and the CSSD were similar (see table 2) also before the 1998 election, whereas in 1996, the ODS had a commanding lead in the assessment of political personalities. The ODS is most frequently regarded by respondents as a party that makes the greatest contribution towards the development of entrepreneurship (40%) and that will best ensure the interests of the Czech Republic (18%).

Only 13% of respondents classify themselves as staunch party supporters. On the other hand, nearly a third of those polled (30%) would vote a certain party just because it annoys them the least. The party orientation and a suitable programme are the strongest motivation to vote for a certain party. The family background and participation in party life play the least important role.

Over two thirds of respondents take a critical view of how parties behave, whereas about a quarter of those polled are at least partly satisfied. During the last three years, there has only been a minor oscillation in opinions on how parties behave. The US-DEU, KSCM and KDU-CSL are generally clearly seen as opposition parties, while classifying the ODS as such is problematic. In respect of activities in the Chamber of Deputies, respondents give the best assessment to the CSSD and the worst to the KSCM.

No major sociodemographic differences were reported among CSSD supporters (23%). The ODS (18.5%) is attractive primarily for respondents with good living standards and voters with university or full secondary education. The party also occupies a strong position among businessmen and tradesmen, white-collar employees, intellectual workers and among Prague inhabitants. The KSCM (13.5%) is traditionally appealing to pensioners, voters with poor living standards and respondents with primary education.