Political

As a part of April survey made by CVVM there were questions about relationship of Czech citizens to the European Union. Respondents had to talk about impact of EU membership of Czech Republic on some segments of economical and ocial system of Czech Republic and their standard of living.The EU influence on supply of goods and services on czech market is best evaluated by 60% of addressed cititizens. On contrary impact on agriculture is supposed to be he worst by two thirds of respondents.

Satisfaction with EU membership of our country was expressed by more than a third of czech citizens (36%), on contrary approximately a fifth of Czechs feel dissatisfied with it. The highest number of respondents (40%) are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with EU membership of our country. When talking about our membership in EU people appreciate chance to travel to other EU states without any problems.

As a part of April survey realized by CVVM there was a question how citizens perceive 4 long-lasting strong political Parties and Greens. We chose some criterions that represented both concrete programme aspects and general characteristics of their activity at political scene.

When evaluating political Parties respondents mostly agreed with statement „the Party is only interested in gaining the power“ when talking about parliamentary parties - it was positively answered by 60 – 72 % of respondents and and statement that Greens are only interested in gaining power – it was agreed by 46% respondents.

Popularity of Top Politicians

In April survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated whether respondents trust to selected politicians. They were a shown a list of names of 25 represantatives of Parties presented in Chamber of Deputies . There were also included names of electoral candidates – Party leaders (Parties that appear at least in research of Party preferences )

Among Party representatives Bohuslav Sobotka enjoys the highest trust expressed by 43 % of czech citizens.

In April 2006 we noticed increase of confidence in all monitored constitutional institutions.

President of Czech Republic is still the most trusted constitutional institution who enjoys trust expressed by three quarters of czech citizens (73%). Czech government has relatively high number of trustees (44%). As usual both Chambers of Parliament are supposed to be the least trustworthy. 30% of czech citizens trust to Chamber of Deputies and Senate is considered as trustworthy institution by 26% of respondents.

All respondents having the right to vote were asked an open question (i.e. without a list of political parties being used) investigating which party they would vote for if an election to the Chamber of Deputies took place the following week. The structure of the answers given is summarised in the table (in %).

The question ‘Imagine that an election to the Chamber of Deputies is held next week.

Popularity of Top Politicians

In March survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated how respondents trust to selected politicians.(see table 1 and 2).They were a shown a list of names of 26 politicians. (All members of Government,president,chairmen of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, leaders of Parties represented in Parliament, chief of Constitutional Court and eurocommissioner Špidla). Among our top politicians president Václav Klaus and minister of Culture Vítězslav Jandák are supposed to be the most trustworthy politicians by almost two thirds of respondents (both 64%).

In March 2006 public confidence in constitutional institutions returned to its level from January 2006. It seems that increase of number of those who confided in constitutional institutions in February happened just by chance and it is not the beginning of new trend. The most trustworthy constitutional institution is president who enjoys trust expressed by 68% of respondents. On the other side four out of 10 Czechs (39%) confide in czech government.

All respondents having the right to vote were asked an open question (i.e. without a list of political parties being used) investigating which party they would vote for if an election to the Chamber of Deputies took place the following week. The structure of the answers given is summarised in the table (in %).

The question ‘Imagine that an election to the Chamber of Deputies is held next week.

Popularity of Top Politicians

In February survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated how respondents trust to selected politicians.

They were a shown a list of names of 26 politicians. (All members of Government,president,chairmen of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate, leaders of Parties represented in Parliament, chief of Constitutional Court, eurocommissioner Špidla). Among our top politicians president Václav Klaus is found to be the most trustworthy by more than two thirds of respondents (68%), he is followed by minister of culture Vítězslav Jandák (64%).