Crushing majority of Czechs do not want PM's departure - poll

Almost the same portion of people (81 percent) expressed satisfaction with Fischer's performance as prime minister.

The government is trusted by 65 percent of those polled, SANEP said.

Fifty-five percent of the respondents said they consider Fischer the most trustworthy political representative who defends the country's interest the best of all.

Compared to this, 36 percent of those polled said Klaus defends the country's interest the best of all, while the Senate chairman Premysl Sobotka (ODS) and Chamber of Deputies chairman Miloslav Vlcek (CSSD) "won" only 6 and 3 percent support in this respect.

The flash poll was conducted in reaction to speculations about Fischer's possible nomination as EC member on November 6-7, when the information emerged that the two strongest parties, the Civic Democrats (ODS) and the Social Democrats (CSSD) reached agreement on him as an acceptable candidate for Czech EU commissioner.

Fischer has declined the offer in the meantime.

Only 10 percent of those polled said they would prefer Fischer being a commissioner rather than prime minister.

According to 60 percent of the respondents, Fischer has done better as PM than his predecessors in the post, ODS head Mirek Topolanek and CSSD head Jiri Paroubek.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz