(03/26/10) -

Czech Voters Inclined to Back Opposition

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) remains the most powerful political group in the country, according to a poll by STEM. 27.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the main opposition party in the next legislative election, practically unchanged since February.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) remains the most powerful political group in the country, according to a poll by STEM. 27.9 per cent of respondents would vote for the main opposition party in the next legislative election, practically unchanged since February.

The ruling Civic Democratic Party (ODS) is second with 20 per cent, followed by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) with 11.3 per cent. Support is lower for Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 (TOP 09), 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 Czech Party of Citizens’ Rights (SPO).

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.

On Mar. 25, Topolanek called Fischer a "weak prime minister," adding, "If I rebuke Jan Fischer for something, because otherwise I like him and he completely fulfilled what was expected from him in the first four months in office, it is that he did not make radical executive measures when he had an opportunity to make them. (…) I rebuke him for having chosen a simpler way that brings him short-time popularity."

Polling Data

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