Putin still seen best for presidency, though rating falls

File Photo of Vladimir Putin Speaking with Flag Behind Him and Microphones in Front

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Aleksandras Budrys – February 26, 2013)

One-third of Russians still believe that President Vladimir Putin is the best choice for the post as head of state, although his rating continues to fall steadily, a survey conducted by independent agency Levada Center showed on Tuesday.

The poll, conducted on February 15 to February 18, surveyed 1,600 people over 18 years of age in 130 locations in 45 Russian regions on who would they vote for if presidential elections took place next Sunday.

The survey showed that Putin’s approval rating was 32 percent in February, down from 35 percent in December 2012 and from 40 percent in June last year.

The rating of runner-up Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov rose to 8 percent from 7 percent in the past two months, but it was down from 10 percent registered in June 2012.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev saw his rating down by one percentage point to 2 percent from 3 percent from December to February, while that of Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky remained unchanged at 5 percent.

The number of Russians supporting new Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as a presidential candidate rose by one percentage point to 4 percent and by two percentage points from December last year.

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