MOSCOW, 2 March 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey commissioned by Social Research Expert Institute (EISI) and devoted to Vladimir Putin’s Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly.
On February 29, Vladimir Putin delivered his annual Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly. Eighty percent of respondents are somewhat aware of this event, including 40% of those who are well aware; the same share of respondents have heard something about that but do not know any details (40%). Twenty percent of respondents found out about that during the survey. Of those who know about the Presidential Address, 30% followed the Address very closely, 41% found out about the key points from the news reports. Twenty-three percent of respondents did not follow the Address; 5% say they are indifferent to politics.
Of those who followed the Presidential Address, 86% say the Presidential Address had a positive impression on them, including every second respondent who reports it with certainty (49% - completely positive). Eighty-five percent of those who watched the Address say the President has a clear long-term strategic vision for the country. Eight percent report the opposite.
Half of Russians (51%) who followed the Presidential Address say they appreciated the ideas and proposals stated by the president. The following topics received most approvals among those who are informed: support for young families (21%); infrastructure, road and housing construction (13%), “Family”, “Long and active life”, “Personnel” national projects et cet. (12%); domestic policy and country’s development (11%); support for families with many children (10%); support for military personnel and extending subsidized mortgages (9%, each); social policies and care for population, economic development and changes in education (8%, each). The topics respondents disliked are conflict in Ukraine and tax policies (2%, each).
Overall, the Presidential Address evoked primarily positive emotions in those who followed it: trust (36%), hope (35%), confidence in the future (33%), respect (32), and pride (29%). Much fewer respondents mentioned negative emotions: distrust (7%), irritation, disappointment, and anxiety (4%, each). Five percent expressed indifference.
Of those who followed the speech, 85% say Vladimir Putin has a clear action plan, a development strategy for the upcoming years. Every tenth (10%) considers that there is no strategy or action plan. The majority (86%) believes that the President can implement the action plan fully or in part; every second respondent is fully confident in his ability to implement the plan (51% “to implement fully”). Only 8% oppose them.
VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was commissioned by EISI and conducted March 1, 2024. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18+ took part in the survey. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. Data were weighted for social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Vladimir Putin delivered his annual address to the Federal Assembly. Do you know, have you heard, or do you hear for the first time about it? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total |
I am well aware | 40 |
I heard something but I don’t know any details | 40 |
This is the first time I hear about that | 20 |
Did you follow the presidential speech as part of the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly, or not? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who heard about the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly) | |
| % of those who heard about the Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly |
Yes, I followed closely the speech of the president | 30 |
I didn’t follow closely the speech, I learnt about the key points from news reports, newspaper articles/internet | 41 |
No, I didn’t follow the President’s speech | 23 |
I’m not interested in politics; I don’t care about that | 5 |
Don’t know | 1 |
What impression did the presidential address make on you? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
Completely positive | 49 |
Likely positive | 37 |
Likely negative | 4 |
Completely negative | 5 |
Don’t know | 5 |
In your opinion, was President Putin clear about his strategic vision of the country’s future, or not, when he was delivering his Presidential Address to the Federal Assembly? close-ended question, one answer, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
Likely clear, comprehensible | 85 |
Unlikely clear, comprehensible | 8 |
Don’t know | 7 |
If you followed the Presidential Address, what ideas and proposals did you like most? (open-ended question, no more than 3 answers, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
Support for young families / increase in maternity capital / child benefits | 21 |
Infrastructure / construction of houses, roads | 13 |
National projects Family / Youth of Russia / Long and active Life / Personnel / Data Economy program | 12 |
Domestic Policy / development of the country / traditional values / development in various areas | 11 |
Support for families with many children | 10 |
Support for military servants/ launching a foundation / support for families of servicemen / benefits | 9 |
Extending subsidized mortgages | 9 |
Social policy / care for population / higher pensions / fighting unemployment / benefits | 8 |
Economic development / development of industry / relaunching manufacturing industries / import substitution | 8 |
Changes in education / back to the Soviet education system / withdrawing from the Bologna system | 8 |
People’s wealth / higher living standards / higher salaries | 6 |
Support for doctors and teachers / additional payments / higher salaries | 6 |
Demography / birth rate | 4 |
Foreign policy / Russia-US relationship / multipolar world | 4 |
SMO participants are future elite / engaging military personnel in managerial positions | 4 |
Increasing minimum wage / living wage | 3 |
Protecting Russia / security / army provision / strengthening military capabilities/ defense industry development | 3 |
SMO / combating fascism / Western weapon supplies / Victory will be ours | 3 |
Development of SMEs / support / benefits | 2 |
He waived the debt to the regions | 1 |
Other | 4 |
I liked everything | 2 |
None / nothing | 5 |
Don’t know | 23 |
What ideas and proposals did you dislike? (open-ended question, no more than 3 answers, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
Special military operation / conflict with Ukraine / continuing the SMO / wars / he didn’t say when the war would stop / military budget | 2 |
Tax policy / higher taxes / tax deductions | 2 |
Economy / budget policy | 1 |
Education / Unified State Exam | 1 |
Demography / families with many children/support for families with many children | 1 |
Testing nuclear arms / nuclear arms threat | 1 |
Benefits / support for SMO participants / job opportunities for the SMO participants | 1 |
Social policy / no support / he didn’t say anything about the retired persons | 1 |
Mortgage loan / house construction | 1 |
Counteracting the Western countries / Russia’s isolation / enemies are everywhere | 1 |
No details / idle talk / he doesn’t fulfil his promises / nothing but promises | 1 |
Other | 3 |
I disliked everything | <1 |
None / I liked everything | 51 |
Don’t know | 38 |
In general, what emotions did Vladimir Putin’s Presential Address to the Federal Assembly evoke in you? (close-ended question, no more than 3 answers, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
Trust | 36 |
Hope | 35 |
Confidence in the future | 33 |
Respect | 32 |
Pride | 29 |
Distrust | 7 |
Irritation | 4 |
Disappointment | 4 |
Anxiety | 4 |
Indignation, dislike | 2 |
No emotions / indifference | 5 |
Other | 7 |
Don’t know | 2 |
Do you think Vladimir Putin has a clear action plan, country development strategy for the next several years, or not? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
There is a clear action plan, a strategy | 85 |
No action plan, no strategy | 10 |
Don’t know | 5 |
In your opinion, is Vladimir Putin capable of implementing the country development strategy, or not? (close-ended question, one answer, % of those who followed the Presidential Address) | |
| % of those who followed the Presidential Address |
Capable of implementing it fully | 51 |
Capable of implementing it in part | 35 |
Not capable | 8 |
Don’t know | 6 |