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The Levada Center polling agency has released a survey that when compared with previous poll results would seem to suggest the general public wants a liberalization of the political climate in the country.

file photoCentralization of power falling out of favor

If in 2004, after the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as president, 68 percent of those polled thought that the concentration of virtually all political power into the hands of Putin would most likely be to the benefit of the nation, then in the recently conducted March 16-19 poll that figure had fallen to 53 percent.

A similar decline was seen in the number of people who thought that the political screws needed to be tightened and any political or economic disruptions be dealt with harshly fell from 69 percent in December 2006 and 57 percent in September 2011 to 35 percent in the most recent poll ­ the lowest figure recorded in response to this question since it was first asked in 2001.

Meanwhile, the number of people who believed that the government should leave people to conduct their own business and simply ensure that the law is not broken increased from 34 percent in September of 2011 to 48 percent in this current March poll ­ a figure that has never been exceeded since the polling agency started asking the question in 2001.

Putin should discuss his plans

As to the question of whether Putin should discuss his planned course of action with public representatives, the protest movement and leaders of the opposition, 27 percent said he definitely should and 41 percent said probably should, while 13 percent said he probably shouldn't and only 4 percent said he certainly shouldn't.

According to the same poll, 43 percent of respondents would not like to see Putin run for president again in six years' time, while 17 percent would not be against him running one more time. Thirty-four percent were undecided.

Keywords: Russia, Government, Politics - Russian News - Russia

 

The Levada Center polling agency has released a survey that when compared with previous poll results would seem to suggest the general public wants a liberalization of the political climate in the country.

file photoCentralization of power falling out of favor

If in 2004, after the inauguration of Vladimir Putin as president, 68 percent of those polled thought that the concentration of virtually all political power into the hands of Putin would most likely be to the benefit of the nation, then in the recently conducted March 16-19 poll that figure had fallen to 53 percent.

A similar decline was seen in the number of people who thought that the political screws needed to be