Political Situation

In June 2004, a half of the polled citizens did not feel very satisfied with how democracy is functioning in the Czech Republic. Another fifth of the respondents were not satisfied at all. Less than 1% of those surveyed expressed complete satisfaction with how democracy is functioning in our country. A quarter of the survey participants were quite satisfied.

When assessing the functioning of democracy in the European Union, the respondents expressed totally different opinions.

The problems most often considered by respondents to be the major ones are as follows: unemployment, economic or general crime, corruption, state indebtedness and the reform of public funds, permanent quarrels among politicians, unstable government and the ongoing political crisis, problems in the health sector, politicians’ unconcern for ordinary people and poor work of the police and courts in the enforcement of law.

Surveys conducted by the Public Opinion Research Centre regularly examine which recent events are regarded by respondents as major ones. As regards specific events, the respondents most frequently mentioned the election to the European Parliament and accession of our country to the European Union. They also considered other events occurring in the local political scene to be important, in particular the resignation of Vladimir Špidla from the post of prime minister, the subsequent fall of the government, crisis in the CSSD and the election of Stanislav Gross as its new leader.

In mid April, 11% of those polled were satisfied with the political situation, whereas 57% expressed dissatisfaction. 28% of respondents were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied. The level of dissatisfaction (as was also the case two months ago) has reached its peak since February 2003. The group satisfied with the political situation includes mainly young people aged 15-29 years and those who consider their living standards to be good.

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.