prague, Czech Republic – October 19, 2023 – President Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic has secured the highest level of trust among the country’s top politicians, according to a survey conducted by the CVVM polling agency between July and September this year. The survey findings indicate that President Pavel is not only the most trusted politician but also the only one for whom trust outweighs distrust, reflecting the confidence that the Czech population places in his leadership.

In this comprehensive survey, which spanned from July 28 to September 25 and included 985 Czech residents over the age of 15, it was revealed that a remarkable 55% of the population trusts President Pavel, while only 38% express distrust. These figures underscore the extent to which President Pavel enjoys the support and confidence of the Czech people.

Following closely behind, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Andrej Babis, representing ANO, emerged as the second most trusted politician, securing the trust of 42% of respondents, while 53% expressed distrust. Tomio Okamura, the leader of the far-right Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD), came in third, with 35% trust and 56% distrust. Notably, the levels of trust in these politicians remained relatively stable since the last poll, with only minor fluctuations.

The survey also highlighted a significant decline in trust for politicians from the ruling parties compared to the previous poll conducted in April and May. Senate Speaker Milos Vystrcil, representing ODS, was the fourth most trusted politician, with 22% trust and 46% distrust. Regional Development Minister Ivan Bartos, representing the Pirates, also held the same trust level of 22%, but faced a higher level of distrust at 67%.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala, along with Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky and Health Minister Vlastimil Valek, received the trust of 19% of respondents, while distrust was expressed by the same percentage. However, Prime Minister Fiala and Lower House Speaker Marketa Pekarova Adamova, also from TOP 09, faced the highest levels of distrust among the top politicians, with 77% expressing their lack of confidence. These figures represent a notable increase in distrust in Prime Minister Fiala and Speaker Pekarova Adamova compared to the previous survey.

At the lower end of the trust spectrum were Legislation Minister Michal Salomoun and Europe Minister Martin Dvorak, both trusted by only 5% of respondents. Roughly one-fifth of the respondents expressed distrust, while a significant proportion, approximately two-thirds, indicated that they were not familiar with these politicians.

The survey’s findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of political trust in the Czech Republic and signal potential challenges for the ruling parties in maintaining public confidence. President Petr Pavel’s strong position as the most trusted politician underscores his influence and the support he enjoys from the Czech population.

Article by Prague Forum