Two-thirds of Russians approve of Putin’s work as president – poll

(Interfax – Moscow, 31 October) According to sociological surveys, Russians support the president, emphasize the need for reforms in the country and believe that there will be improvements in the political and economic life in the near future.

Vladimir Putin’s work as president is currently approved of by 67 per cent of those surveyed, a third of citizens (32 per cent) hold the opposite view, while the rest are undecided on this issue, sociologists from the Levada (public opinion research) centre told Interfax on Wednesday (31 October) based on the results of an all-Russia poll conducted in October.

At the same time, according to their findings, a total of three-quarters of respondents are in favour of reforms. Some are waiting for the authorities to take decisive steps, up to changing the system of government, arguing that half-measures do not work (20 per cent), while others support gradual changes (56 per cent) and think that the authorities have been carrying out reforms with the right speed and in the right direction.

One in ten (10 per cent) is satisfied with everything. These respondents believe that “no changes are necessary as the current stability benefits the country”.

According to the poll conducted in 45 regions of the Russian Federation, decisive changes in the country are sought by men (24 per cent), those aged 40-54 (23 per cent), those with a lower-than-secondary education (23%), those with middle income (22 per cent), and those living in rural areas (21 per cent) and in cities with a population of up to 500,000 (24 per cent).

Those who are happy with gradual reforms are often women (38 per cent), Russians aged over 55 years (41 per cent), with secondary or higher education (39 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively), with a low consumer status (42 per cent), living in rural areas (41 per cent) and small towns with a population of up to 100,000 (38 per cent).

In response to the relevant question from the sociologists, half of respondents (50 per cent) said that they do not expect the country’s life to worsen in a year’s time, one in five (19 per cent) believes that it will get better, and one in six (17 per cent) has pessimistic expectations.

At the same time, 41 per cent of respondents expect improvements in the political situation in the country in the coming months, while 39 per cent expect improvements in the economic situation. However, a considerable number of respondents do not rule out negative changes – 31 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively.

The Levada centre’s regular surveys also show that Russian citizens’ financial situation has not worsened over the past year. As in November last year, 63 per cent of respondents again said that their families’ financial situation remained at the same level, 12 per cent said that it improved, while 24 per cent said that it worsened.

At the same time, the majority of citizens (59 per cent) expect that their economic situation will not change in the coming year, while some (14 per cent) expect that it will improve.