April 2000
› Excerpt from “Central European Public Opinion”,
a special issue of “Polish Public Opinion”, created and published
by CBOS
The change of the political system in Poland, the Czech Republic,
Hungary and Lithuania took place roughly at the same time. The way of
these Central European countries to democracy was similar, although due
to their different political tradition, as well as a different starting
point (Lithuania was not an independent state until 1991), we cannot say
that it was the same.
ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRACY:
After ten years of democracy, dissatisfaction with the functioning of
this system prevails among the citizens of all four countries. One can
say that in each of these countries expectations associated with the
change of the system were higher than the chances for their fulfilment.
The Czechs are relatively the most satisfied with their democracy. The
current functioning of the democratic system gained the least acceptance
in Lithuania.
IN YOUR OPINION, DOES THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT ACT IN THE
INTEREST OF:
The governments of the countries discussed here are not evaluated
positively, either. None of the cabinets was regarded by the public
opinion as acting in the interest of most citizens. The feeling that
the interests of ordinary citizens are not represented by the state
administration is the strongest in Lithuania and Poland. Over half of
the Lithuanians believe that the government of Andrius Kubilius acts in
the interest of some social groups only. 45% of Poles think the same
about Jerzy Buzek’s government. The governments of Victor Orban in
Hungary and Milos Zeman in the Czech Republic are evaluated relatively
better.
The legislatures are evaluated similarly to the governments. The
representativeness of the parliament is evaluated relatively the highest
in Hungary.
Local authorities are identified as institutions much closer to the
citizens. 51% of the Czechs and 52% of Hungarians believe that the local
authorities act in the interest of most or almost all residents of the
country. Almost two-fifths of Poles (39%) and one-third of Lithuanians
(32%) share this opinion. Of the four countries compared here,
Lithuanians have the worst opinion on their local authorities.
IN YOUR OPINION, DOES THE PARLIAMENT ACT
IN THE INTEREST OF:
Dissatisfaction with democracy and a feeling that the citizens’
interests are poorly represented both by the executive and legislative
authorities are associated with a low level of perceived influence of
citizens on the affairs of the state. In all countries discussed here
most respondents do not believe that ordinary people can have influence
on solving general problems that their countries face. The Hungarians
(17%) and Poles (13%) feel that they are able to influence the way the
problems of the society as a whole are solved a little more frequently
than the Lithuanians and Czechs (7%). The influence of citizens on local
affairs is evaluated a little higher. The feeling of having influence
on local affairs is the strongest in Poland (39%). It is a little less
common in Hungary (35%) and the Czech Republic (30%). The citizens’
participation in power on the local level is evaluated the lowest in
Lithuania (17%).
IN YOUR OPINION, CAN PEOPLE LIKE YOU OPENLY EXPRESS THEIR
OPINIONS ON PROBLEMS AND NEGATIVE SOCIAL PHENOMENA?
People cannot feel that they have influence on the way their country is
ruled unless they are able to express their individual opinions on
difficult problems and negative sides of social life. The citizens of
Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Lithuania evaluate the situation
in this respect differently.
The Poles and Hungarians evaluate their freedom of expression the
highest. The residents of Hungary and Lithuania evaluate their
possibilities in this respect less optimistically.
