Politicians, Political institutions

In May 2005 CVVM started a survey among responts, how they trust in constitutional institutions.

President Vaclav Klaus is still supposed to be the most trustworthy constitutional institution.According to citizens the end of governmental crisis helped to both government and constitutional institutions, first of all it helped to both Chambers of czech Parliament. In present almost a third of respondents confide in government (32%), which mean it has risen for 18 % points in comparism to previous month.

This press release presents the other part of acquired results, which relate to the topic – position of president in political systém of Czech Republic.

Survey was devoted to opinions of czech public about every single constitutional presidental competence. The search was focused on what are public opinions about position of president to government, 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.

In the April survey, CVVM extensively treated questions concerning opinions of citizens opinions about a position of the president in political system of Czech Republic.

This press information presents first part of gained results(including previous surveys)

First of all we interrogated all the respondents about which electoral method is, according to their point of view, the most suitable for the Czech Republic.

Highest level of trust, out of all constitutional institutions, enjoys president Václav Klaus,

though trust in him, expressed by citizens, is on the wane. 67% of respondents expressed their trust in the president. Contemporary government crisis shook with citizens’trust to government, but it shook with confidence in constitutional institutions as well and first of all with confidence in both Chambers of Parliament.

As a part of a March survey there was a question focused on a way , how voters perceive 4 long-term strongest political Parties. There were chosen some criterions, that represent both concrete programme aspects and general characteristics of activity made by Parties at political stage. There were not detected outstanding differences among evaluation of every single Party, particularly at negative statement „ it deals only with how to gain power“.

According to March survey made by CVVM, the least trustworthy parlament Party is KSČM.

Two thirds of respondents did not trust to this Party (Either definitely or probably )

A quarter of respondents trust definitely or probably this Party.

The most trustworthy Party was found ODS(43%) according to March survey.

There is no Party (included ODS), which is supported by more supporters than

non-supporters.

CVVM interrogate czech citizens about whether they confide in the selected political leaders. This time the submitted list included the names of 27 politicians, who are representatives of the Parties represented in the Chamber of Deputies. Besides political leaders 1.vice chairman of ČSSD and minister of finance Bohuslav Sobotka is found most trustworthy(by 38 of trustees). Chairman of ODS Mirek Topolánek and chief magistrate of Prague Prahy Pavel Bém are regarded as a second most trustworthy people.

In March 2005, Czech citizens expressed the highest level of trust to the president of the country, who enjoyed confidence of 70 % of czech citizens. Trust in Senate was expressed by 22% of czech citizens, trust in Chamber of Deputies was expressed by 20% of czech citizens. Czech government’s position worsened a bit. Contemporary more than

a quarter of czech citizens trust to czech goverment. In March 2005 46% of czech citizens find regional councils trustworthy, 60 % of czech citizens find trustworthy local councils.

In February 2005, Czech citizens expressed the highest level of trust to the president of the country, who enjoyed confidence of 70 % of czech citizens. In comparism to previous month Czech goverment’s position slightly worsened, though it enjoys confidence from a third of czech citizens. In comparism to January 2005 the Chamber of Deputies registered more important fall of trustworthiness , when approximately a fifth of citizens trust to czech goverment according to our survey.

In January survey, CVVM investigated whether the respondents confide in selected constitutional bodies. This time the submitted list included the names of 26 politicians

(all members of the government, president, ombudsman, chairmen of Senate and Chamber of Deputies, chairmen of Parlament Parties and euro-commissioner Špidla).

Now it is president Václav Klaus, who is viewed as the most trustworthy person among our top politicians.