May 21, 2006

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Scan) - The opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS) remains the frontrunner in the Czech Republic's legislative election, according to a poll by CVVM. 32 per cent of respondents would vote for the ODS, led by Mirek Topolanek, in next month's Chamber of Representatives ballot.

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - The opposition Civic Democratic Party (ODS) remains the frontrunner in the Czech Republic's legislative election, according to a poll by CVVM. 32 per cent of respondents would vote for the ODS, led by Mirek Topolanek, in next month's Chamber of Representatives ballot.

The governing Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) is second with 28 per cent, followed by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) with 15.5 per cent, the Green Party (SZ) with 10.5 per cent, and the Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL) with 5.5 per cent.

Czech parties require at least five per cent of the vote to earn seats under the country's proportional representation system. The next election to the Chamber of Representatives is scheduled for Jun. 2 and Jun. 3. In the June 2002 ballot, the CSSD elected 70 lawmakers to the 200-member Chamber of Representatives.

In July 2004, prime minister Vladimir Spidla resigned from his post following a poor showing from the CSSD in the elections to the European Parliament. Social Democratic interim leader Stanislav Gross took over, but resigned last year following allegations regarding the origin of funds borrowed to buy an apartment in Prague. CSSD vice-chairman Jiri Paroubek—who served as regional development minister—formed a new coalition administration in April 2005.

Yesterday, Paroubek urged Czech president Vaclav Klaus—a member of the ODS—to reprimand fellow party member Miroslav Macek, who slapped CSSD member and health minister David Rath during a conference. Rath had previously criticized Macek in an interview published in Lidove noviny, saying, "He married for the millions."

Polling Data

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

	May 2006	Apr. 2006	Mar. 2006
Civic Democratic Party (ODS)	32.0%	26.5%	25.5%
Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)	28.0%	23.0%	21.0%
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM)	15.5%	13.5%	12.5%
Green Party (SZ)	10.5%	10.0%	10.0%
Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People's Party (KDU-CSL)	5.5%	9.5%	6.5%

Source: CVVM
Methodology: Interviews with 835 Czech adults, conducted from May 8 to May 14, 2006. No margin of error was provided.