A recent poll conducted by NMS Market Research shows that seven in ten voters of opposition ANO leader Andrej Babis do not believe that president-elect Petr Pavel, who defeated Babis in the January presidential runoff vote, will defend their interests. Only one in ten supporters of Babis think otherwise, while one-fifth of his supporters remain unsure. The poll results reveal the split in Czech public opinion and the respondents’ reasons for their preferences.

While 38% of Pavel’s supporters voted against Babis, 16% of them did so because of his presentation, and 13% cited his honesty, dignity, and politeness. Meanwhile, most of Babis’s supporters voted for him due to his experience (22%), while 18% said they had voted for him to oppose Pavel, and 14% said it was because he helped people. Fewer voters mentioned their knowledge of what to expect from Babis, and that he did not support the government coalition.

The poll also reveals that Babis failed to persuade people that Pavel was equivalent to the government coalition. Only 5% of respondents cited Babis’s failure to support the government coalition as the reason for their vote. Additionally, Pavel gained most of his votes from his first-round opponents, economist Danuse Nerudova and senator Pavel Fischer, neither of whom advanced to the second round. He also received votes from most of the supporters of other failed candidates, senator Marek Hilser and entrepreneur Karel Divis, and some who did not vote in the first round.

The majority of voters (64%) made up their minds about whom to vote for before the first round, while 22% of respondents decided immediately after the first-round results were published, 4% based their decision on the TV debates, and 5% decided on the day of the election.

Pavel will be sworn in as president on March 9. After being elected, he reiterated his commitment to hearing out and helping his opponents and those who did not vote for him.

The poll was conducted in February on a sample of 1,287 people over the age of 18. It is essential to note that the results of a single poll should not be taken as a definitive measure of public opinion. However, this poll provides insight into the views of Czech voters and highlights the split in public opinion regarding the incoming president.

Article by Prague Forum