bne:Chart – Poll shows Czechs lack confidence in central government

By bne IntelliNews June 9, 2015

Henry Kirby in London -

 

Czechs have far more confidence in their local governments than they do in the central one, according to a new survey by Prague-based Public Opinion Research Centre. 

Both houses of central government – the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies – achieved a confidence rating of 34 out of 100, while respondents gave both their local mayor and municipal council a score of 62.

As the first bne:Chart shows, confidence in most institutions has remained stable since the study began, yet the confidence rating of President Miloš Zeman has been much more erratic. His lowest rating, at 34, came in December 2014, a month after he controversially opposed EU and US-led sanctions against Russia.

Since then, his support has recovered somewhat, with his most recent confidence rating of 46 sitting 4pp lower than when the poll was first conducted, but well below his October 2014 peak of 58.

The public’s mercurial level of trust in President Zeman is better illustrated in the second bne:Chart, which compares levels of confidence and distrust in the equally unpredictable head of state, whose recent decision to bar a US diplomat from the presidential residence in Prague raised many eyebrows.

 

Related Articles

UK demands for EU reform provoke fury in Visegrad

bne IntelliNews - The Visegrad states raised a chorus of objection on November 10 as the UK prime minister demanded his country's welfare system be allowed to discriminate between EU citizens. The ... more

Czech food producer Hame seen next on the menu for Chinese giant

bne IntelliNews - Following a smorgasbord of acquisitions in late summer, China Energy Company Limited (CEFC) is eyeing yet another small Czech purchase, with food ... more

INTERVIEW: Babis slams coalition partners, but Czech govt seems safe for now

Benjamin Cunningham in Prague - Even as the Czech governing coalition remains in place and broadly popular, tensions between Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka and Finance Minister Andrej Babis remain ... more

Dismiss