Confidence Ratings of Russian President, Premier Stabilize – Poll

File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) – The decline in confidence ratings for President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which started after the March presidential election in Russia, has slowed. Their confidence ratings stood at 42-44% and 36-38% respectively in September-October, the Public Opinion Foundation reported on Thursday.

The Foundation held its latest poll of 3,000 respondents in 204 towns and cities in 64 regions on November 3-4.

Fifty-five percent of the respondents declared their confidence in the president in March; the indicator fell to 42% by early November. The premier’s confidence rating has slid from 45% to 36%.

Mistrust grew from 17% to 23% for the president and from 20% to 26% for the premier within the past seven months, the Foundation said.

Some 44% of the respondents are ready to vote for Putin in a hypothetical election next Sunday, as compared to 54% in March.

Thirty-nine percent of 1,500 respondents polled simultaneously in 100 towns and cities in 43 regions gave an affirmative answer to the question about their trust in the government. Mistrust increased only slightly, from 32% to 35%, or within the margin of error.

The Federation Council enjoys more trust (34%) than the State Duma (26%). The number of those distrusting these bodies is 30% and 53% respectively.

United Russia remains the most popular party although its election rating has fallen from 46% to 40% since spring.

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