Political

In February 2009 CVVM probed situation in Czech society concerning trust and satisfaction with some international institutions – concretely United Nations, European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Most Czechs trust to UN (63 %), after that follows EU with 60 % and NATO with 53 %. The same order is also in the context of satisfaction with membership in these organizations. 72 % of Czechs feel satisfaction with UN, in related to EU it is 67 % and finally with NATO 58 % of citizens are satisfied.

In March 2009 CVVM focused on public opinion about politicians and factors influencing a decision-making process. Czech people believe that corruption, lobbying and special interest groups have the biggest influence on decisions of politicians. On the contrary, many people think that scientists, researchers and citizens do not play an important role in the decision-making process.

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In April survey CVVM was also concerned on evaluation of some social conditions of life in the Czech Republic. Majority was satisfied with an access to education (77 % „very + fairly good“) and access to health care (65 %). With the rest of chosen areas most of informants were dissatisfied: chance to work or to be employed (26 % „very + fairly good“), chance to get a flat (23 %),...

In April 2009 CVVM investigated on the membership of the Czech republic in the European union. Informants were asked to evaluate positive and negative efects of membership and the impact of membership on chosen areas of public life.

76 % agreed that EU membership helped Czechs to work, live and study in other EU countries. 75 % said that membership increased the level of bureaucracy in Czech republic.

In March survey, the 44 % of Czech citizens expressed their opinion that mass media mainly influence decisions of politicians. Respondents also talked about influence of some monitored media upon decisions of politicians - Czech Television and Nova TV have the biggest influence upon decisions of politicians. According to respondents´ opinion daily MF Dnes has strong influence upon decisions of politicians.

In April survey the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on topic of the presidency of the European Union. The Czech Republic has assumed the presidency of the EU on 1 January 2009. The respondents were asked if they are interested in this topic or if they have a lot of informations about the presidency. The survey also investigated citizens’ evaluation of the Czech Republic’s preparations for the presidency.

Popularity of Party Representatives

In April 2009 CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated whether respondents trust to selected politicians. They were given a list with 27 names of top politicians who represent political parties present in Chamber of Deputies.

In March 2009 CVVM focused on political culture and political Parties in Czech Republic.

According to major part of czech citizens (81%) arguments, problems and scandals are common and occur in other democracies, although major part of addressed respondents (82%) expressed their opinion that these argumentations and scandals discredit us abroad.

Almost all respondents (90%) agreed that there is need to inform public about the problems, argumentations and scandals, because czech politicians need to be under control of public.

On the elections to the European Parliament

In April 2009, 46 % of Czech citizens expressed willingness to participate in the election to the European Parliament. On the other hand, 40 % of Czech voters did not want to vote. The remaining 14 % were still undecided.

Those polled who expressed willingness to participate in the elections were then asked the following open question (without a list of parties being used): ‘What political grouping or party are you going to vote for in the elections to European Parliament?’ The answers indicate that most votes would be given to the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD, 28 %) and the Civil Democratic Party (ODS, 26 %), followed by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM, 13 %), the Christian and Democratic Union (KDU-CSL, 6 %) and the Green Party (SZ, 5,5 %).

Confidence in constitutional institutions and satisfaction with political situation in April 2009

In April 2009 within the regular survey CVVM SOÚ AV ČR, v.v.i., questioned respondents about their confidence in constitutional institutions. In this month there was a question about their trust to Chambers of Parliament, Government, President, Local and Regional Councils.

As a part of the CVVM surveys there is a question about public satisfaction with current political situation in the Czech Republic.