The main opposition Civic Democratic Party, meanwhile, continues to
dominate the political scene in the Czech Republic, according to a new
poll by Factum. Nearly 34 percent of respondents said they would vote
the Civic Democrat ticket in the next general parliamentary election.
The poll shows, however, that the governing Social Democratic Party has
gained back favour following the resignation of party chairman
Stanislav Gross as prime minister this spring. The Social Democrats now
poll at 23 percent, with the new prime minister, Jiri Paroubek, widely
seen as a competent leader. Polling at just above 19 percent, the main
Communist party remains a strong third, followed by the junior
coalition Christian Democratic Party at some 11 percent.