PM Paroubek high in polls but under pressure on 100th day in office

Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek has come under fire for his support of the police's intervention against CzechTek. The controversy is potentially damaging to the prime minister, who since his appointment has become the most popular politician in the country, according to a poll published last week. Tuesday is Mr Paroubek's 100th day in office, and to discuss how he has managed to make such an impact with voters I spoke to political commentator Vladimira Dvorakova.

"First it was mainly because he started to work very hard and he was able to solve a lot of problems that were not solved before and that were problems for Czech society. I think that he looked like a very pragmatic politician who is able to discuss things with people.

"The other question is whether this popularity will be sustained after this last weekend, when I think that Mr Paroubek made his first big mistake."

You mean his handling of the CzechTek events?

"Yes, and I think it has started some crisis, and we shall see whether it will be solved quickly. But I think that a lot of people are very unhappy with the solution that was taken by the police and which was supported by the prime minister."

What about his ability to communicate? Some people say compared to previous prime ministers like Vladimir Spidla and Stanislav Gross he is simply better able to get his ideas across to people.

"I think that he is quite understandable, and what is different in comparison with Mr Spidla is that he likes to communicate. Mr Spidla's problem was that he didn't want to use any opportunity to speak to the public or to journalists. Paroubek has the ability to communicate. And compared to Mr Gross I think he is able to explain his opinions much better than Mr Gross, and they look more serious."

Some people, some journalists, have been talking about the "Paroubek phenomenon" - do you think it will make a significant difference to the fortunes of his party, the Social Democrats, at the next elections next summer?

"I think that his popularity can influence the results of the Social Democrats, and it's quite clear that it's not just his popularity - according to public opinion polls support for the Social Democrats is growing.

"I think this can help a lot and it can change the results that were expected. Because everybody supposed that the victor would be the Civic Democratic Party. This may not happen, although there is almost one year to go and we shall see, because rapid growth in popularity can change into rapid decline in popularity.

"So it will depend not only on Paroubek but also on the whole Social Democratic Party and also on his opponents, which means the situation within the opposition."

Finally, do you think Jiri Paroubek is somebody who will play a big part in Czech politics in the next few years?

"A few days ago I would have said, yes, I think he will. But after this CzechTek, which I suppose to be a very important event, I am not sure of that."