Political

In its regular survey in January 2008 the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on the questions about the presidential candidates Vaclav Klaus and Jan Svejnar. The task for informants was to present their attitude to each candidate separately from the other one. Support for both of the candidates is at the same level: 42 % of Czechs would like to see Vaclav Klaus as the president of the Czech Republic, the same rate would like to see Jan Svejnar.

Confidence in constitutional institutions and satisfaction with political situation in January 2008

In January 2008 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.

The most serious threat for peace and security in the Czech Republic is considered to be an international organized crime (62 % respondents consider it as a „serious thread“) followed by terrorism (53 %). Currently the calamities (35 %) or epidemics (26 %) are seen as a real threat for the Czech Republic by Czech citizens more than the eventual war conflict (16 %).

As a most dangerous countries for peace and security in Czech Republic were mentioned Iran (17 %), Iraq (16 %), Russian federation (16 %), USA (12 %), Afghanistan (8 %) and China (7 %).

In January survey CVVM investigated how people trust to political Parties and whether they are willing to take part in elections to Chamber of Deputies. In the press release there are two different types of information : Party preference and a model of voting behaviour.

Party preferences give us information about public sympathy with political Parties in the group of citizens who have voting right and there is also included a part of citizens who will not take part in elections or they do not knot who to vote for.

At the beginning of the year 2008 it passed fifteen years since Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In its regular survey ‘Our society’ in November 2007 the Public Opinion Research Centre examined how this historic event is viewed nowadays. Fifteen years ago, only 25 % of Czech citizens agreed with the break-up, while 52 % were opposed and 23 % do not know according to their current statements.

In its regular survey in December 2007 the Public Opinion Research Centre focused on the questions about the break-up of former Czechoslovakia. A strong majority (81 %) of Czechs thinks that splitting of Czechoslovakia is not a current and live issue nowadays. About three quarters (71 %) of population assume that there is no reason to continue the discussion about causes of the Czechoslovakia break-up.

The Czechoslovakia break-up was one of the main issues in regular survey in December 2007. According to this survey 47 % of Czechs say the Czechoslovakia break-up was not necessary; 30 % think it was. About quarter (23 %) has no opinion. Regret and sorrow are feelings linked with the creation of the Czech Republic after splitting of federation.

A December 2007 poll „Our Society“ showed that Czechs are proud of the peaceful Czechoslovakia break-up. But the public opinion is divided, whether this peaceful process was unique, or it was just a common way how to solve the problems in our political and geographic space: 45 % of Czechs say the peaceful break-up was unique, 39 % think it is a common way of solving problems.

In December survey CVVM asked respondents a question, how would they evaluate activity of some political Parties and institutions. They could use same evaluation as at school, where number 1 was the best evaluation and number 5 the worst one. Survey proved that ČSSD is best evaluated Party in Czech Republic (3,13), followed by Greens (3,24) and ODS (3,49). KSČM and KDU-ČSL got worse evaluation (they both share average marks over 3,5).

In December 2007 CVVM SOÚ AV ČR investigated whether respondents trust to selected top politicians. They were given a list with 25 names of top politicians. In a survey there were included names of membres of Parliament, president, chairmen of Senate and Chamber of Deputies, leaders of political parties in Parliament, ombudsman and chief of Constitutional Court.

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