(03/23/10) -

Czech ODS Rebounds, Narrows Gap with CSSD

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Czech Republic’s Civic Democratic Party (ODS) has regained ground, according to a poll by CVVM. 25.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling party in the next legislative election, up five points since February.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Czech Republic’s Civic Democratic Party (ODS) has regained ground, according to a poll by CVVM. 25.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the ruling party in the next legislative election, up five points since February.

The opposition Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) remains in first place with 32 per cent. The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) is third with 12 per cent, followed by the Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 (TOP 09) with 10 per cent. Support is lower for Public Affairs (VV), the Christian and Democratic Union – Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL), the Green Party (SZ), the Czech Party of Citizens’ Rights (SPO), and the Workers Party (DS).

In June 2006, Czech voters renewed the Chamber of Representatives. Final results gave the ODS 35.58 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by the CSSD with 32.32 per cent. Czech parties require at least five per cent of the vote to earn seats under the country’s proportional representation system. The final tallies gave the ODS, the KDU-CSL and the SZ 10 seats in the lower house, with the remaining 100 seats going to the CSSD and the KSCM.

The tie among rival factions led to a long political stalemate. In January 2007, Czech president Vaclav Klaus re-appointed ODS leader Mirek Topolanek as prime minister.

In March 2009, Topolanek’s government finally lost one of many non-confidence motions tabled by the opposition since 2007. The last motion was in part incited by opposition to the government’s handling of the economy. The leaders of the ODS, KDU-CSL, SZ and CSSD agreed to form an interim cabinet of non-partisan members. Klaus appointed Jan Fischer—a non-partisan, little known public servant who had been heading the Czech Statistical Office (CSU)—to serve as interim prime minister. Fischer took office in May.

Fischer was originally slated to serve until early October 2009, when a new legislative election was supposed to take place. The ballot was postponed due to a Constitutional Court decision, and was re-scheduled for May 28 and May 29, 2010.

Earlier this month, during a photo shoot for a magazine that targets a gay audience, Topolanek compared a gay minister, Gustav Slamecka, with caretaker prime minister Fischer, saying: "When things really get tough, really tough, then I have the feeling that Slamecka, as a minister, gives way. And that Fischer is simply a Jew, not a gay, and he gives way earlier still. That’s got nothing to do with his being gay, that’s a matter of character; it’s not linked to him being gay."

Topolanek reportedly also made offensive comments about the Catholic Church.

On Mar. 21, ODS member and Senate leader Premysl Sobotka said Topolanek’s remarks were "unacceptable" and urged him to step down as leader of the party, saying, "I call on Mirek Topolanek to leave public life. Otherwise we will not only feel ashamed over his miserable remarks, we will have to apologize for them at home and abroad."

Fischer also condemned Topolanek’s words as being "offensive, stupid and misleading."

Polling Data

What party list would you vote for in the next parliamentary election?