Politicians, Political institutions

Four fifths (79 %) of the respondents agree with the opinion that deputies should above all follow the programme, with which their party went to the elections. However, at the same time 69 % of the interviewees expressed the view that deputies in the Chamber of Deputies should above all promote the interests of regions, where they had been elected. 73 % of citizens think that deputies should have some previous experience with local or regional government.

The president is trusted by 54% and not trusted by 41% of the respondents. It is possible to say that the level of confidence in the president has been stable for the period of at least two years now. The leaving government enjoyed confidence of 43% of the interviewees and was not trusted by 49%. The current evaluation of the government corresponds with the results obtained right after its formation in September 1998.

As far as the departing monochrome minor cabinet of Miloš Zeman is concerned, the total results of the evaluation of the government’s actions in home and foreign policy, economy and with regard to overall contribution to the Czech Republic were relatively favourable. The number of critical views has not significantly surpassed the 30 % mark in any of the realised survey and it has always been at least approximately balanced by similar number of positive views and surpassed by the number of those, who regarded the government’s work as neutral.

Within its regular survey, the Public Opinion Research Centre again focused on the level of the public’s confidence in individual constitutional institutions. The president is trusted by 51% and not trusted by 45% of the respondents. It is though still possible to say that the level of confidence in the president has been stable for the period of at least two years. The government was viewed as trustworthy by 43%, the Chamber of Deputies by 29%, the Senate by 23% and regional councils by 29% of the respondents.

Public opinion concerning individual fields of the current government’s work is positive in most cases. For instance the critical evaluation of social topics, which has persisted from the previous electoral terms, was changed after 2002. More favourable views concerned significantly the evaluation of social security and living standards and a little less significantly employment and housing policies.

We asked all the respondents about which electoral method is, according to their point of view, the most suitable for the Czech Republic. The Czech public in general and also all the important subgroups of the population agree that the president of the republic should be elected by all voters. This electoral method was in total favoured by 57 % interviewees. The current electoral method (president elected by the Parliament) is considered the most suitable by one fifth of the respondents (20 %) and 12 % view as optimal the method of election by a wider group of electors.

Regularly quarterly we ask respondents about selected political personalities. Today’s list contains 23 names of politicians selected according to a long-term monitoring process and the current socio-political situation. The list features all members of the government, president and chairmen of Senate and Chamber of Deputies. At the top of the list we can find Stanislav Gross (trusted by 68% of the respondents).

Within its regular survey, the Public Opinion Research Centre again focused on the level of the public’s confidence in individual constitutional institutions. The president is trusted by 51% and not trusted by 47%. In comparison with the previous survey, the level of public confidence in the head of the state has not experienced any significant developments. The government is trusted by 41% and not trusted by 56% of the respondents.

Confidence in the army (56%) and courts (41%) has reached its historical maximum, however, in the case of media (57%) the level of public confidence is at its historical minimum. The police is trusted by 53%, Constitutional court by 51%, churches by 34%, banks by 33%, trade unions by 29% of the respondents. Political parties enjoy confidence of only 12% of the respondents, 79% regard them...

Confidence in the army (56%) and courts (41%) has reached its historical maximum, however, in the case of media (57%) the level of public confidence is at its historical minimum. The police is trusted by 53%, Constitutional court by 51%, churches by 34%, banks by 33%, trade unions by 29% of the respondents. Political parties enjoy confidence of only 12% of the respondents, 79% regard them as untrustworthy.