Moscow, 2 February: The majority of Russians are showing an interest in the forthcoming presidential election, while quite a lot of citizens believe that their lives will improve after the election, sociologists have ascertained. Of the 1,600 Russians polled at the end of January, 70 per cent said that they are interested in the forthcoming presidential election on 4 March and 26 per cent expressed the opposite point of view, research by the Yuriy Levada Analysis Centre, received by Interfax today, shows.
According to the sociologists' data, the high percentage of those interested in the election has lasted since October last year. During the same period, the number of citizens who are sure that after the March presidential election their lives and the lives of the people around them will change for the better has increased slightly, from 42 to 44 per cent.
Correspondingly, the number of Russians who predict a deterioration in their situation dropped from 48 to 45 per cent, the poll conducted at the initiative of the Levada Centre on 20-22 January showed; the statistical margin of error does not exceed 3 per cent.
Asked about which specific positive consequences of the Russian presidential election Russians expect, respondents spoke, first of all, about "a better life for themselves and their families" (46 per cent), an increase in wages and pensions (42 per cent) and stable development of the country (41 per cent).
Many citizens also expecting an improvement in the social situation, a variety of approaches to resolving the country's problems and increasing the possibilities for democracy and personal self-expression (50 per cent of respondents as a whole).
Meanwhile, 18 per cent of citizens said that they are not expecting any changes in their lives after the presidential election.
Sociologists asked participants in the poll which qualities the Russian president should have. Respondents put intelligence and intellect in first place (66 per cent), followed by honesty and integrity (62 per cent). Among the other qualities a president needs Russians also named political experience (53 per cent), economic experience (41 per cent), leadership abilities (39 per cent), a strong will (34 per cent), the ability to listen and to compromise (27 per cent), erudition (19 per cent) and unselfishness (18 per cent) and so on.
According to the poll, Russians generally expect the same from the future president as in previous years: he should return Russia to the status of a great power (57 per cent), ensure law and order in the country (52 per cent) and a fairer distribution of income (49 per cent), he should strengthen the role of the state in the economy (37 per cent) and should pay greater attention to the population's social protection (34 per cent) and so on.
Respondents were able to choose several options, therefore the sum total of responses exceeds 100 per cent.
Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russia News - Russia
Moscow, 2 February: The majority of Russians are showing an interest in the forthcoming presidential election, while quite a lot of citizens believe that their lives will improve after the election, sociologists have ascertained.
Of the 1,600 Russians polled at the end of January, 70 per cent said that they are interested in the forthcoming presidential election on 4 March and 26 per cent expressed the opposite point of view, research by the Yuriy Levada Analysis Centre, received by Interfax today, shows.
According to the sociologists' data, the high percentage of those interested in the election has lasted since October last year. During the same period, the number of citizens who are sure that after the March presidential election their lives and the lives of the people around them will change for the better has increased slightly, from 42 to 44 per cent.
Correspondingly, the number of Russians who predict a deterioration in their situation dropped from 48 to 45 per cent, the poll conducted at the initiative of the Levada Centre on 20-22 January showed; the statistical margin of error does not exceed 3 per cent.
Asked about which specific positive consequences of the Russian presidential election Russians expect, respondents spoke, first of all, about "a better life for themselves and their families" (46 per cent), an increase in wages and pensions (42 per cent) and stable development of the country (41 per cent).
Many citizens also expecting an improvement in the social situation, a variety of approaches to resolving the country's problems and increasing the possibilities for democracy and personal self-expression (50 per cent of respondents as a whole).
Meanwhile, 18 per cent of citizens said that they are not expecting any changes in their lives after the presidential election.
Sociologists asked participants in the poll which qualities the Russian president should have. Respondents put intelligence and intellect in first place (66 per cent), followed by honesty and integrity (62 per cent). Among the other qualities a president needs Russians also named political experience (53 per cent), economic experience (41 per cent), leadership abilities (39 per cent), a strong will (34 per cent), the ability to listen and to compromise (27 per cent), erudition (19 per cent) and unselfishness (18 per cent) and so on.
According to the poll, Russians generally expect the same from the future president as in previous years: he should return Russia to the status of a great power (57 per cent), ensure law and order in the country (52 per cent) and a fairer distribution of income (49 per cent), he should strengthen the role of the state in the economy (37 per cent) and should pay greater attention to the population's social protection (34 per cent) and so on.
Respondents were able to choose several options, therefore the sum total of responses exceeds 100 per cent.