Poll puts TOP 09 in second place after Social Democrats

An opinion poll by the agency SC&C for public broadcaster Czech Television has found that three parties are neck and neck as regards public support. The left of centre Social Democrats topped the poll with 21 percent of support according to results of the survey released on Thursday. TOP 09 followed with 20 percent with the Civic Democrats third with 19 percent. Both the Communist Party and Public Affairs commanded 11 percent support. Compared with the election results at the end of May TOP 09 has leapfrogged the Civic Democrats into second place. The preferences would translate into the Social Democrats getting 53 seats in the 200 seat lower house of parliament followed by TOP 09 with 51 and the Civic Democrats with 46. The Communists and Public Affairs party would each get 25 seats.