Political Situation

As a part of June survey realized by CVVM there was a question which asked the respondents how they would evaluate some areas of life. The addressed citizens evaluated e.g. Foreign relations of the Czech Republic, Environment, School system, Transport services, Science and Research, Corruption, Culture, Observance of human rights, Economic criminality, EU Membership of the Czech Republic, situation in Army, Goods and Service supply or Standard of living.

Czech citizens are critical when talking about political culture of most of politically active people. More than a half of respondents evaluate political culture of members of Local Councils positively (59 % positively, negatively 29 %). Positive evaluation of members of Regional Councils also prevails (39 % positively, 23 % negatively). Positive attitude towards political culture of members of Government is shared by a third of Czechs (24 %).

In March 2007 CVVM SOÚ AV ČR did a survey, what affairs in public and political life are according to Czechs compatible with holding office and which ones should lead to resignation of a politician. Most Czech people take radical attitude to politicians who are sentenced or charged of crime (this is in both cases – when a crime relates to holding office and when a crime is not in relation to holding office as well) – agreement with resignation was almost unanimous.

In March survey 2007, CVVM SOÚ AV ČR asked Czech citizens the question concerning political and public affairs. Most people agree with the statement that public should be informed about public and political affairs (95 %). Most Czech public also share an opinion that (86 %) that it is very difficult to know a lot about these situations. Almost same number of Czechs (84 %) think that a lot of scandals are dissimulated.

In our country people are most satisfied with supply of goods and services (77 % of respondents expressed their satisfaction), with current situation of Czech culture and with relationships of the Czech Republic with foreign countries. On contrary dissatisfaction prevails with areas such as corruption and economical criminality. 79 % of Czech citizens are dissatisfied with economical criminality and 82 % of people are discontented with corruption.

Czech citizens are most satisfied with supply of goods and services.Majot part of people are satisfied with current state of czech culture. Almost a half of citizens are satisfied with relationships of Czech Republic to foreign states and czech environment.In other monitored areas dissatisfaction prevailed satisfaction. People are mostly dissatisfied with current state of corruption (83% dissatisfied),economic criminality (80%) and unemployment (76%) in Czech Republic.

The respondents often consider various aspects of economical development to be the most serious problems of Czech Republic and first of all is unemployment. The other area af problems consists of corruption, economic or general crime, and poor work of the police and courts in the enforcement of law. Essential part of respondents regarded various general or concrete problems from czech political area as most serious problems.

In May 2005 CVVM focused on political culture and political Parties in Czech Republic.

According to major part of czech citizens (75%) arguments, problems and scandals are common and occur in other democracies, although major part of addressed respondents (82%) expressed their opinion that these argumentations and scandals discredit us abroad.

Almost all respondents (95%) agreed that there is need to inform public about the problems, argumentations and scandals, because czech politicians need to be under control of public.

Practically unanimous agreement with demands to demission exists only in cases, when

a politician is punished for delict, either delict connected with his politician office or not. In a similar way public perceive accusation of delict. As a reason for resignation public suppose illegitimate usage of academical degree(90% of respondents are for demission), if a politician was connected with a criminal act in public (89%),lying in public speech(82%), commitment an alcoholic disturbance (78%), unclear financial or property machinations (76%), causing serious car accident (74%), being sentenced for civil litigation (69%), public unbecoming behaviour (64%).

In February we interrogated our respondents about whether they are satisfied or dissatisfied with current state of monitored areas in Czech Republic. The prevalence of dissatisfaction is also quite noticeable in the area of supply of goods and sevices, culture, attitude of Czech Republic to foreign states and natural environment.

Of all the monitored areas, citizens took the most negative view of the current state of corruption, unemployment,economic criminality.