Political

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.

A strong intention to participate in the referendum on the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union at this point has been shown by 42 % of respondents, another 36 % have promised their participation with some hesitation ("probably yes"). Seven percent were still considering their decision and the remaining 15 % would not come to the referendum. The readiness to vote in the referendum remains under the influence of certain cooling phenomena recorded at the beginning of January.

The major event of early February 2003 was the presidential election the importance of which equalled that of the election to the Chamber of Deputies in late June and early July 2002. This event was followed by the planned attack of the USA and Great Britain on Iraq, the Columbia shuttle disaster and the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union. The major event earlier that year, the 2002 floods, remained above the five percent limit of monitoring, along with the possible deployment of our soldiers in Iraq.

All respondents having the right to vote were traditionally 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.

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

Only a quarter (26%) of those polled say that ten years ago they agreed with the break-up of Czechoslovakia, whereas at that time there were twice as many opponents of the break-up (59%).

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.

From our surveys we know that this summit was the most important event at the end of November and beginning of December, and still in January it was named among the most significant recent events by 22 % of respondents to this research. We were interested in how people rated this event. It was predominantly valued by people favourably; a “definitely positive” or “mostly positive” opinion was shared by 56 % of respondents.

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 floods became the most significant event of early 2003, followed by the developments connected with the end of the presidential mandate of Václav Havel. The third position was taken by the planned attack of the USA and Great Britain on Iraq, the NATO Summit in Prague and the accession of the Czech Republic to the European Union. These developments were closely followed by the election. The importance of foreign political events grew in January, despite the fact that the planned attack on Iraq was the only development to make it to the ‘big’ foreign and political events with a minimum of 5% reflection.