February 10, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Czech Republic’s main opposition party continues to be the most popular political organization in the European country, according to a poll by Median. 35.7 per cent of respondents would support the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) in the next legislative election, down 1.3 points since mid-December.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The Czech Republic’s main opposition party continues to be the most popular political organization in the European country, according to a poll by Median. 35.7 per cent of respondents would support the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) in the next legislative election, down 1.3 points since mid-December.

The governing Civic Democratic Party (ODS) is second with 29.2 per cent, followed by the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) with 12.6 per cent, the Green Party (SZ) with eight per cent, and the Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL) with 5.9 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.

Each European Union (EU) member state presides over the Council of the EU for a period of six months, in accordance with a pre-established rotation. In January 2009, the Czech Republic will take over these responsibilities from France.

On Feb. 4, CSSD chairman Jiri Paroubek criticized the government, saying, "(The ODS) would practically rule out the Czech Republic’s ability to exercise our EU presidency in a dignified and efficient manner." ODS deputy chairman and Central Bohemia regional governor Petr Bendl rejected Paroubek’s views, declaring, "He has made it clear that if he and the Communists were not in the government, nothing would be possible."

Polling Data

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

	Feb. 1	Dec. 16	Dec. 1
Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD)	35.7%	37.0%	35.3%
Civic Democratic Party (ODS)	29.2%	28.2%	31.4%
Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM)	12.6%	16.6%	14.2%
Green Party (SZ)	8.0%	5.9%	4.4%
Christian and Democratic Union - Czech People’s Party (KDU-CSL)	5.9%	6.9%	7.6%

Source: Median
Methodology: Interviews with 1,160 Czech adults, conducted from Jan. 2 to Feb. 1, 2008. No margin of error was provided.