Politicians, Political institutions

Confidence in constitutional institutions and satisfaction with political situation in June 2007

In June 2007 within the regular survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR, v.v.i., questioned respondents about their confidence in constitutional institutions. In this month there was also included a question about their trust to other Constitutional institutions (besides the regularly included institutions: Chambers of Parliament, Government, President, Local and Regional Councils): Ombudsman, the Constitutional Court and the Supreme audit office.

In May 2007 CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated whether respondents trust to selected top politicians. They were given a list with 25 names of top politicians. In a survey there were included names of membres of Parliament, president, chairmen of Senate and Chamber of Deputies, leaders of political parties in Parliament, ombudsman and chief of Constitutional Court.

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Within the May survey realized by CVVM SOÚ AV ČR, v.v.i. respondents were questioned about their confidence in constitutional institutions. This question is used to ask about trust to both Chambers of Parliament, Government, president, Regional and Local Councils.

As a part of our regular surveys there is a question about satisfaction with current political situation in the Czech Republic.

Regular surveys focused on public trust to constitutional institutions and on satisfaction with political situation help to monitor development of public attitudes in the long-term.

The president has been the most trustworthy constitutional institution in the long term and he enjoys trust expressed by almost three quarters of Czech citizens at this time (74 %). In the beginning of April the Government was found trustworthy by three out of ten Czechs. In comparison to previous month number of those who trust to Government has little dropped. Currently 23 % of Czech public find Chamber of Deputies trustworthy, while nearly a quarter of people (24 %) confide in Senate.

Popularity of Party Representatives

In March 2007 CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated whether respondents trust to selected politicians. They were given a list with 24 names of top politicians who represent political Parties present in Chamber of Deputies.

Among Party representatives Vlasta Parkanová was found most trustworthy (58 %).She is followed by Prague city major Pavel Bém (50 % of trustees) and by vice-chairman of ČSSD Bohuslav Sobotka (38 %) and leader of Greens Martin Bursík (36 %).

The president has been the most trustworthy constitutional institution in the long term and he enjoys trust expressed by almost three quarters of Czech citizens at this time. In the beginning of March the Government was found trustworthy by more than a third of Czechs. In comparism to previous month number of those who trust to Government has increased. Currently 23 % of Czech public find Chamber of Deputies trustworthy , while a quarter of people (25 %) confide in Senate.

In February survey we asked respondents how they evaluate Government of Mirek Topolánek and whether they agree with some changes in contemporary tax system, which were announced in keynote speech by Government.

Most public expressed their dissatisfaction with some question focused on their relationship to Government. If we sum answers “rather dissatisfied“ and “definitely dissatisfied“ we can see that 7 people out of 10 (68 %) are dissatisfied with Government communication with public, 66 % of respondents are not satisfied with personnal structure of the Cabinet of ministers and 64 % expressed their dissatisfation with head of Government.

Popularity of Party Representatives

In February 2007 CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated whether respondents trust to selected top politicians. They were given a list with 24 names of top politicians. In a survey there were included names of membres of Parliament, president, chairmen of Senate and Chamber of Deputies, leaders of political parties in Parliament, ombudsman and chief of Constitutional Court.

The president has been the most trustworthy constitutional institution in the long term and he enjoys trust expressed by more than three quarters of Czech citizens at this time. In the beginning of February Government with prime minister Mirek Topolánek was found trustworthy by almost a third of respondents. Traditionally the lowest numer of trustees is shared by both Chambers of Parliament. Almost a half of Czech public (46 %) trust to their Regional Council while more than two thirds of people (65 %) confide in their Local Council.

In January survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR focused on topic President´s position in political system of the Czech Republic. This press release presents second part of results of the survey and it completes the press information published on 15 February 2007.

The other part of survey investigated citizens´ opinion on single constitutional presidental competencies and his status to appoinment of government, president’s right to dissolve Chamber of Deputies, right to call an election, right to veto and its existence, status of president to appointment of Constitutional Court judges and position of president in Foreign politics field of our country.