Approval ratings for outgoing Czech president Václav Klaus have fallen to a record low, with a mere 26 percent of Czechs saying they trust him – the lowest figure since he assumed the presidency in 2003. A poll by CVVM, showed that public support for Klaus dropped by 27 percentage points since December. Analysts speculate the shift in public support stems from Klaus’ controversial amnesty declaration at the start of the year.
The amnesty, which was sharply criticized by both the public and lawmakers across the political spectrum, applies to convicts with suspended or short prison sentences as well as elderly convicts. It also halted criminal proceedings that have dragged on for more than eight years, which applies to several high-profile corruption and fraud cases. Klaus has repeatedly dismissed the criticism. “It is a campaign against me, against the values I represent and follow and that I have been pushing for in politics for over 20 years,” he said at the beginning of January.
