MOSCOW, January 28, 2021. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey describing the attitudes of Russians towards the unification of A Just Russia, For Truth and Patriots of Russia parties.
The level of awareness about the parties’ unification is low among Russians: 28% of respondents know about that, to varying degrees.
Forty-six percent of Russians say they might vote for the merged party. Forty-one percent of respondents say they will hardly vote for the new party. A further 13% remained undecided.
Ten percent of Russians choose “A Just Russia – For Truth” when they are asked “Which of the following parties would you vote for, if the State Duma elections took place next Sunday?”. Six percent would vote for ‘A Just Russia’; 2%, for ‘For Truth’; and 1% for ‘Patriots of Russia’.
Sixty-one percent of Russians consider that the merged party puts the emphasis on the Russia’s ‘special path’. Ten percent think that its goal is Russia’s integration into to the global community.
According to 48% of respondents, the new party will pursue the strengthening of social justice; while 18% think that it is focused on market economy.
The new party is considered oppositionist by 27% of respondents. On the contrary, almost half of Russians (45%) say that the merged party is likely to support the official power.
All the respondents and also those who say they might vote for the merged party view social justice as equality of everyone before the law (32% and 28, respectively). Many respondents also think that justice consists in equality of living standards for everyone (17% and 20%, respectively).
All the respondents and the “A Just Russia – For Truth” party electorate would like Sergey Mironov to be the party’s leader (28% and 36%). Zakhar Prilepin is ranked second (12% and 16%, respectively).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on January 27, 2021. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. The data were weighted according to selection probability and 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.
Last week three Russian parties, “A Just Russia”, “For Truth” and “Patriots of Russia” decided to merge into a new party called “A Just Russia – For Truth”. Do you know, have you heard/do you hear for the first time about that? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I am well aware | 7 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 21 |
This is the first time I hear about that | 72 |
Do you think you will vote for the merged A Just Russia – For Truth party? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Probably, I will | 46 |
Probably not | 41 |
Don’t know | 13 |
If the Russian State Duma elections took place next Sunday, which of the following parties would you vote for? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents; data for the merged parties only) | |
| Total respondents |
A Just Russia - For Truth party | 10 |
A Just Russia party | 6 |
For Truth party | 2 |
Patriots of Russia party | 1 |
In your opinion, which of the statement best characterizes the new merged party? (% of total respondents, closed-ended question; percentages of those who agree with the statement) | |
| Total respondents |
This is a party focused on Russia’s “special path”, aiming to preserve its independence | 61 |
This is a party focused on Russia’s integration into the global community | 10 |
This is a party advocating social justice | 48 |
This party will promote market economy | 18 |
This will most likely be an oppositionist party | 27 |
This is a party supporting the official power | 45 |
In your opinion, what does social justice consist in? (% of total respondents, one answer) | |||
| Total respondents | % of those saying they might vote for the merged A Just Russia - For Truth party | % of those saying they will vote for the merged A Just Russia - For Truth party |
Equality of everyone before the law | 32 | 28 | 23 |
Equality of living standards; so that there won’t be poor or rich people | 17 | 20 | 17 |
The status of everyone within a society is defined by work effort | 12 | 12 | 18 |
Everyone can achieve what he/she is able to achieve | 10 | 12 | 13 |
Social security for vulnerable groups; social responsibility of the rich | 4 | 3 | 4 |
Other | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Don’t know | 22 | 23 | 23 |
In your opinion, who should head the merged A Just Russia – For Truth party? (open-ended question, one answer, %) | ||
| Total respondents | % of those saying they might vote for the merged A Just Russia - For Truth party
|
S.Mironov, | 28 | 36 |
Z.Prilepin, | 12 | 16 |
G.Semigin, | 2 | 2 |
Other | 3 | 4 |
No one | 1 | 1 |
I don’t care | 1 |
|
Don’t know | 53 | 41 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory.