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Andrej Babš’ ANO party is maintaining a strong lead over its political rivals, according to a survey conducted by the TNS agency. According to the outcome, ANO would now win general elections with 33.5 percent of the vote, followed by the centre-right Civic Democrats with 11 percent and the Communist Party with 10.5 percent. The Social Democrats would come fourth with 10 percent of the vote. TOP 09 and Tomio Okamura’s SPD would get 7.5 percent each. The alliance of Christian Democrats and Mayors would only get 7.5 percent together and would thereby fail to win seats in the lower house for which they would need 10 percent support as a coalition.

Czech businessmen have made an early election call for political parties to clearly state their support for the construction of a high speed rail network in the country in the run up to October elections to the lower house of parliament. They are worried that pledges might otherwise run out of steam.

A poll conducted by the Median agency in June is the latest to suggest that if elections were held today, they would be won by ANO headed by former finance minister Andrej Babiš. According to the survey, ANO would win 27.5 percent, while the Communist Party would finish second, on 15.5. The Social Democrats, the senior party in government currently, would secure 14 percent and finish third. Other parties to make it into the lower house, would be the current opposition parties the Civic Democrats and TOP 09. The coalition of the Christian Democrats and the STAN party of independents and mayors would be nine percent – below the 10 percent threshold needed for the coalition to make it into the lower house.

The Social Democratic Party, which effected an unexpected change-of-guard at the top post last week ahead of the autumn general elections, unveiled its election program at a party conference at the weekend. The party is promising voters lower taxes, an average salary of 40,000 crowns a month within five years, more generous welfare benefits for families with children and better health care. But how realistic is the programme and can the effected personal changes turn around the party’s dwindling support. Those are questions I put to political scientist

The Social Democratic Party has presented key issues upon which it will run its campaign ahead of the elections this autumn. At its conference in Prague on Saturday, the party outlined comfortable living standards, an average monthly wage of 40,000 crowns, progressive taxation, quicker health care, and a so-called 'millionaire tax' as key priorities. The party also formally confirmed Foreign Minister Lubomír Zaorálek as campaign leader. The Social Democratic Party is trying to respond to dwindling numbers in opinion polls, which have placed the party as low as 10 percent.

The parliamentary election due to take place in October will be the first influenced by legislation passed last year curbing spending by political parties, news website iDnes reports. Under the new law, parties' campaign spending has a ceiling of 90 million crowns (in the past, the news site points out, spending higher than 100 million was not unusual). Some lawmakers, even among those who backed the bill, have reportedly now privately expressed misgivings; some interpret aspects of the law differently, clashing over whether the use of government-assigned vehicles for campaign purposes, for example, is a campaign expense. Campaign spending is overseen by a specific bureau overseeing the financing and economic activities of political parties and movements.

With only four months to go before general elections, the Social Democrats are taking a most unorthodox step in a bid to try and claw back at least some of the support they have been losing in the opinion polls. Out goes Bohuslav Sobotka as party leader, though he will remain prime minister. And in come Milan Chovanec as new chairman AND Lubomír Zaorálek as electoral leader. I discussed the Social Democrats’ move with political scientist Petr Just.

Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka’s post as leader of the Social Democratic Party is looking increasingly shaky, with speculation increasing he could be replaced before the autumn election. Mr Sobotka refused to comment so far, saying only that the party leadership would address current developments on Wednesday.

President Miloš Zeman has said two principles will guide his steps following parliamentary elections in October: speaking on a tour of South Bohemia, he said he would task the leader of the winning party with the formation of a new government. But he also said he would impress on the winner to deal respectfully with other parties, not least in the event of a close first and second-place finish. The last election, for example, saw the Social Democrats just pip newcomers ANO. The latter, opinion polls suggest, are the front-runners this time.

While some pundits praised Social Democrats leader Bohuslav Sobotka for his handling of the recent government crisis, it doesn’t seem to have benefited his party, who a recent opinion poll put in fourth place on just 10 percent support. In the meantime, there have been reports that Prime Minister Sobotka could be replaced as party chairman even before October’s elections. So why are the Social Democrats in such poor shape at the moment? That’s a question I put to political scientist Jiří Pehe.