July 22, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) is ahead of its rivals by a small margin, according to a poll by Median. 35.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the main opposition party in the Czech Republic, down one point since June.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) is ahead of its rivals by a small margin, according to a poll by Median. 35.5 per cent of respondents would vote for the main opposition party in the Czech Republic, down one point since June.

The governing Civic Democratic Party (ODS) is a close second with 32.5 per cent, followed by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) with 15.1 per cent, the Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL) with 5.8 per cent, and the Green Party (SZ) with 4.5 per cent.

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 100 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. Topolanek’s government eventually won a confidence motion in the Chamber of Representatives after a 100-97 vote.

In the Czech Republic, the president is elected by Parliament to a five-year term. The Czech president can return bills to lawmakers and grant pardons to convicted criminals, and also serves as the commander in chief of the armed forces. In February 2008, Klaus was re-elected by Parliament.

In late April, the ODS-led government barely survived by a no confidence motion tabled by the CSSD over proposed fiscal reforms and the country’s participation in a missile defence program with the United States. In all, 98 lawmakers—three short of the 101 required to trigger an early election—sided with the CSSD.

On Jul. 17, labour and social affairs minister Petr Necas claimed that government reforms introduced in January have saved the country close to $690 million U.S. in welfare costs, adding, "The government’s steps have halted the increase in the mandatory expenditures and stabilized public finances."

Polling Data

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

	Jul. 1	Jun. 1	May 1
Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)	35.5%	36.5%	38.9%
Civic Democratic Party (ODS)	32.5%	32.3%	28.6%
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM)	15.1%	12.2%	13.9%
Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL)	5.8%	7.0%	5.5%
Green Party (SZ)	4.5%	4.9%	4.8%

Source: Median
Methodology: Interviews with 1,072 Czech adults, conducted from Jun. 2 to Jul. 1, 2008. No margin of error was provided.