Pre-election polling ban in effect from Tuesday

The last public opinion surveys of party preference ahead of next weekend’s parliamentary elections will be released on Monday. Czech law forbids the publication of voter surveys in the run-up to elections so as to avoid any influence on election results. Individuals who violate the polling blackout can face a fine of up to 30,000 crowns, while companies can be fined up to half a million. Exit polling may begin as the last voting centres close on Saturday. At present, polls put the centre-left Social Democratic Party about six points ahead of their closest rivals, the centre-right Civic Democrats, and predict parliamentary mandates for the Communist Party, TOP 09, and Public Affairs, with the Christian Democrats straddling the 5% threshold.