TABLE-Czech ruling party suffers after govt fall

                                
 PRAGUE, April 15 (Reuters) - The main Czech opposition
party, the Social Democrats (CSSD), extended its lead over the
ruling Civic Democrats (ODS) after it toppled the cabinet in a
no-confidence vote, two opinion polls showed on Wednesday.
                                
 A survey by the CVVM agency showed backing for the leftist
Social Democrats rose to 37.5 percent from 36.0 percent a month
ago while support for the right-wing Civic Democrats fell to 28
percent from 31.5 percent last month.
                                
 A separate survey by the STEM agency showed backing for the
Social Democrats dipped to 35.1 percent from 35.3 percent a
month ago, while support for the Civic Democrats dipped to 27.5
percent from 27.8 percent last month.
                                
 The Civic Democrats have ruled in coalition with the
centrist Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) and the Green Party since
January 2007. 
                                
 The Social Democrats, joined by rebels from the coalition,
overthrew the cabinet in a March 24 no-confidence vote. The
government stays in place until caretaker Prime Minister Jan
Fischer forms a new government, which should take over on May 9.
                                
 The main parties have agreed to hold an election in October,
ahead of regular polls scheduled for mid-2010.
                                
 
DATE       INSTITUTE    ODS    CSSD   KSCM   KDU-CSL  Greens
 April 15/09  CVVM      28.0   37.5   15.5    7.0       7.0
 April 15/09  STEM      27.5   35.1   10.5    4.4       5.6
 March 18/09  CVVM      31.5   36.0   16.0    5.0       7.0
 March 17/09  STEM      27.8   35.3   11.0    6.0       5.3
 Feb 18/09    CVVM      29.0   38.5   15.5    7.0       6.0
 Feb 13/09    STEM      25.5   35.2   11.8    6.8       5.1
 Jan 28/09    CVVM      29.0   41.0   14.0    5.5       7.0
 Jan 16/09    STEM      22.5   37.7    9.9    6.5       5.8
 Dec 19/08    STEM      23.5   38.4   11.4    5.4       6.3
 Dec 17/08    CVVM      27.0   44.5   14.0    6.0       6.0
 Nov 21/08    CVVM      27.5   43.0   11.5    6.5       8.0
 Nov 18/08    STEM      21.1   37.7    9.6    5.6       5.6
 Oct 30/08    STEM      21.4   33.3   12.0    6.1       7.1
 Oct 29/08    CVVM      26.5   40.0   14.5    7.0       8.5
 Sept 17/08   CVVM      29.0   34.0   16.0    7.5      10.0
 Sept 16/08   STEM      22.3   32.6   11.8    5.9       8.4
 June 18/08   STEM      24.0   33.7   11.8    4.5       8.1
 June 18/08   CVVM      27.5   37.0   15.5    7.5      10.5
 May 28/08    CVVM      26.5   38.0   16.0    7.5       9.0
 May 20/08    STEM      24.8   30.3   11.3    5.2      10.6
 April 24/08  CVVM      30.0   34.0   15.0    8.5      10.5
 April 16/08  STEM      23.4   31.2   11.3    5.5       9.2
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June 2006 election      35.4   32.3   12.8    7.2       6.3
 
                                
 NOTE. The latest CVVM poll was conducted between March 30
and April 6 among 1012 eligible Czech voters and the latest STEM
poll was conducted between April 1 and April 6 among 1297
eligible Czech voters.

 The parties are:
 - Civic Democratic Party (ODS) - right-of-centre,
liberal-conservative
 - The Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) - leftist
 - Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party
(KDU-CSL) - centrist
 - The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) - far left
 - The Greens - environmentalists, centrist.
                                
 Pollsters: The FI and CVVM results are based on a model
predicting gains at the poll box, excluding those not willing to
vote and undecided.
                                
 STEM results are direct voter preferences, and include
replies from all respondents including those not willing to
vote. Parties should thus win a larger than indicated share of
the vote at the election.
 (Reporting by Jana Mlcochova)