Politicians, Political institutions

In the beginning of February 2003 the Public Opinion Research Centre focused in its survey on the question of how citizens currently view their local authorities. The survey was about to find out (among other issues) how many citizens have come into contact with their local council within this or last year, how people view the work of their local councils, to what extent they are satisfied with the work of their local councils and whether they took part in the municipal elections held this autumn.

When asked an open question ‘What three qualities do you think the president should have?’, those polled most frequently held the opinion that the head of state should be educated, morally impeccable and non-partisan. The answers to the question ‘What are you expecting from the Czech president?’ most frequently mentioned the representation of the state, impartiality and objectiveness, social sympathy and interest in people.

In February Špidla’s government enjoyed confidence of 39 % of the respondents and on the contrary was distrusted by 57 %. Compared to January there has been a confidence level drop of 10 % points. The government’s trustworthiness level was below the 40 % mark last time in the year 2001. The Chamber of Deputies was regarded as trustworthy by 28 % and not trustworthy by 68 % of the respondents. The Chamber of Deputies also recorded a confidence level drop, although not as significant as in the case of the government.

The result of the international survey is the fact that in CR and Hungary positive evaluation of government activities prevails and relatively the most favourable attitude is expressed by the Czech public towards the government of Vladimír Špidla (the Czech coalition cabinet’s work up to now is evaluated positively by 51 % and negatively by 39 % of the respondents). A more critical approach prevails in Poland, where almost half of the respondents (47 %) maintains critical opinion on the work of Miller’s government.

Stanislav Gross remains at the top of the chart (he enjoys confidence of 72% of the respondents), followed by ministers Tvrdík (60%) and Buzková (59%). The following ranks are occupied by prime minister Špidla and president Havel (both 54%). Trustworthiness of Senate chairman Petr Pithart and minister Dostál has significantly grown up next to the level of 50 % (both scored 48%).

In comparison with the results from November, resp.

The president of the republic is trusted by 58 % and not trusted by 39% of Czech citizens. The level of confidence in the president has been relatively stable since 1999 and is regularly above the 50% limit.

The government of Vladimír Špidla enjoys confidence of 49 % and is not trusted by 47 % of the respondents. This was the fourth survey of the coalition cabinet trustworthiness level and it has again confirmed the previous surveys – the level of trustworthiness still remains much higher than the one expressed to the leaving Zeman’s cabinet in July (43 %).

The results of the survey show that none of the current pretenders to the post of the president enjoys prevailing support of the public. In case of all the monitored candidates, whom the respondents considered for the post of the president individually, the number of adversaries was always higher than the number of supporters. The relatively highest preferences of all the considered persons were achieved by Otakar Motejl and Petr Pithart (both 43 %), followed by Václav Klaus (35 %), Miloš Zeman (29 %), Jaroslav Bureš (25 %), Jaroslava Moserová (16 %) and Miroslav Kříženecký (12 %).

In December survey the CVVM SOÚ AV ČR focused (among other issues) also – in connection with the upcoming end of Václav Havel’s constitutional mandate – on the evaluation of the president’s work according to six selected criteria. The number of positive opinions in the case of the president strongly prevailed, in particular in such attributes, where the interviewees evaluated his performance of constitutional functions, maintaining the authority and respectability of the presidential office and above all presentation in abroad.

From the offered presidential candidates it is Otakar Motejl, whom the Czech citizens regard as the most acceptable. He now enjoys both the highest number of supporters (45%) and the lowest number of opponents (41%) and only in his case the supporters’ percentage is at least a little prevailing. The second most acceptable candidate is Petr Pithart, who would be welcomed as president by 37% of the respondents, however already more than a half of them does not want him to become the president.

The president is trusted by 58% and distrusted by 40% of citizens. Confidence in the president has been relatively stable at least since 1999 a regularly surpasses the 50% limit. The government of Vladimír Špidla enjoys confidence of 51% and is not trusted by 45% of the respondents. This third survey of the new coalition cabinet trustworthiness level confirms the September and November findings and is by far higher than the one expressed to the leaving Zeman’s cabinet in July (43%).