A recent survey conducted by the Center for Public Opinion Research (CVVM) has revealed that approximately 58% of Czech citizens express trust in President Petr Pavel, a consistent level compared to the previous polls conducted in April and May. Meanwhile, other prominent political institutions have experienced shifts in popularity, with the government and the Chamber of Deputies witnessing a notable 7 percentage point decrease to 25%. Notably, mayors and municipal assemblies continue to garner the highest levels of trust.

The survey highlights President Pavel’s relatively high level of trust, surpassing his predecessor. During most of Milos Zeman’s second presidential term (2018 to March 2023), the proportion of individuals trusting the head of state remained below 50%. The trust in President Pavel has notably outstripped Zeman’s figures; by mid-2022, trust in the president had plummeted below 30%. Although there was a slight recovery, confidence in him had only reached 38% by the end of the previous year.

While trust in the government has remained above 30% since November 2022, a significant decline is observable more recently. A similar pattern can be seen with the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate has also experienced a 2 percentage point drop to 36%, while trust in regional governors has declined by the same margin to 43%. Trust in regional assemblies has experienced a more substantial 6 percentage point decrease to 42%.

Mayors and municipal assemblies consistently stand as the most trusted entities, with over 60% trust for an extended period. The trust level for municipal assemblies currently stands at 62%, down by 4 percentage points from the previous survey, while trust in mayors has declined by 2 percentage points to 65%.

Regarding overall satisfaction with the political situation in the Czech Republic, 15% of respondents expressed contentment, representing a 2 percentage point decline. The CVVM noted that while the assessment of the political situation remains notably lower than the period from 2014 to 2020, the levels of satisfaction are significantly higher than in 2012 and 2013.

The survey was conducted from May 26 to July 24, involving 929 participants. The shifting levels of trust in political institutions indicate the dynamic nature of public sentiment and the evolving landscape of political perceptions in the Czech Republic.

Article by Prague Forum