MOSCOW, March 2, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data on the following subjects: social well-being of Russians in February, Russians` opinion towards crisis and fighting with it, ratings of president and prime-minister, how Russians evaluate their decision in choosing a president  a year after elections took place, how they summarize the work of the Government over the year.

Social Mood Indices

From December to January there has been a decrease of social mood indices in Russia; mostly it is connected with the index of estimation of economic situation in Russia.

Satisfaction with life Index ("How much are you satisfied with your current life?") has decreased by 4% since December - from 45 to 41 points in January. Let us remember that the highest index value was fixed in the beginning of the previous year; in January it was 56, and then decreased to 43. It grew up to 54 again by May; in July after a slight decrease it reached its highest point in 2008 - 56.

Social optimism Index ("A year from now will your family live better or worse than now?") has slumped since the end of the previous year - from 40 to 34 points. The highest value in 2008 was observed in the beginning of the year, January - 64; after that there were several "leaps": the index decreased to 53 by March, and rose again to 63. There was a fall to 58 points, and by the end of the summer (in August) the index reached 62 points. By September the Social optimism Index made up 37 points.

There is a decrease of the Index of self-estimation of family's financial state ("How would you estimate the financial state of your family at present?") - from 48 points in December  to 43 points in January of the current year. Let us remember that the highest point was fixed in August of the previous year (60).  In the beginning of 2008 the index made up 57 points, followed a decline to 50 in February. The next considerable "leap" was marked in summer - from 49 points in June to 60 in August, followed by the downward trend.

Since December of the previous year the Index of economic situation in the country ("How would you estimate the economic situation in the country in general?") dropped from 33 to 19 points. Let us remember that the highest point was reached in September (65), followed by the stable downward trend.

The Index of the general vector of development of the country ("Are you agree that things in Russia are going in the right direction?") has decreased as well - from 42 in December to 37 points in January. In August it reached 65, followed by the shrinkage.

Judgments about crisis and fighting against it: According to February

Since January the share of those deeply concerned about the crisis has risen from 40% to 56% in February. On the contrary, the share of those who are not very concerned is decreasing from 40% in January to 31% at present. Finally, compared with December of the previous year, Russians almost two times rarer declare that they feel little concern about the crisis - from 15% to 8%. Only 3% state that they almost do not care about the crisis.

If in October the leading opinion was rapid end to the crisis and subsequent stabilization (43%), then in December the leading position was held by the right opposite opinion: crisis is a long-term process, and there will not be an outcome coming soon (47%); now a half of respondents think so (54%).  However, every third still consider that the crisis will soon come to an end (33%). 13% were undecided.

In December Russians did not have an unanimous opinion on Russia's perspectives in crisis background, but at the moment respondents (42%) often forecast the future weakening of the country due to the current economic situation (in December - 35%), and 35% of respondents think that the crisis is a chance for Russia to strengthen its role (in December - 37%). 24% were undecided.

The share of those who do not know anything about the plan to fight the crisis is decreasing: if in December those misinformed were 56%, then in February they are 48%. 27% of respondents gave very informative answer. 13% of them consider that anti-crisis plan is to support banking system (in December - 19%), 7% - to support  small land middle enterprises (in December - 4%), 5% - to increase pensions and salaries (1% in December), 4% - to decrease taxes,  3% (for each) - to use maternal capital and strengthen the ruble; 1% (for each) said it was  taxes decrease, deposit insurance, fight against corruption. Every forth were undecided.

The share of those who believes that the positive effect resulted from anti-crisis plan will not be soon: from 18% in December to 29% in February. Those who think so are mostly democrats (50%). Those who consider this plan to be adequate and have early effect are 9% for each group (they are often supporters of democrats and "United Russia" party - 13% and 12% respectively), or, on the contrary, that the plan is no good (those who tend to think so are often democrats supporters - 31%).

Russians have a better understanding of fighting the crisis: the share of those who do not know what to advise to the Government has decreased since December from 40% to 28% in February. The main "recipes" are as follows:  support of production and economy  (8%, in December - 4%), state regulation of prices (6%), job creation, decrease of unemployment (6%), fighting inflation (5%), agricultural rehabilitation, increase in pensions and salaries (4% for each), reduced salaries of officials and members of Parliament, as well as fighting against corruption (3% for each), strengthening the ruble and termination of importing goods (2% for each). 4% of respondents offer to think more about the people. 33% were undecided.

Problems

Compared with the previous year Russians are more concerned about the unemployment (61%, the first position in the list of the most important problems); in 2008 only quarter of respondents was concerned about this problem - 25%). Such problems as economic crisis (23%) and delayed salary payments (20%) appeared for the first time in this list and immediately got high scores. Russians are also worried more than in previous year about the following issues: corruption and departmentalism (41% against 30% in 2008), living standards (32% against 20%).

Authorities in the background of the crisis

During December 2008 and February of the current year the index of political situation ("How would you estimate the political situation in your country in general?") was relatively stable - 63-65 points, it makes up 63 points now. The highest figure was marked in May 2008 (74).  

During February there were no "leaps" in figures that show changes in the level of trust and approval of president and prime-minister.  Electorate ratings - both presidential and parliamentary - remained stable.

Since January there has been a trend towards the increase in rating of trust to President Dmitry Medvedev: January 31 - February 1 it made up 41%, at present (February 21-22) it has risen to 45%.  During December 2008 - February of the current year this indication was fluctuating between 41-45%; beginning from June 2008 (from the first weeks of Medvedev as a president) the number of those who trust the new head of the state has been increasing from 19%.

The rating of trust to prime-minister Vladimir Putin was fluctuating between 56-59% during February this year, currently (February 21-22) it is 56%.  Thus, this figure is fluctuating during the month within the statistical error.

During February 2009 the level of President Dmitry Medvedev approval is within 69-71%, currently (February 21-22) it makes up 70%. Meanwhile, this indicator was 73% in June of the previous year, followed by September increase to 79% (after the South Ossetia), and reached 74% in December 2008 - January this year.

The rating of Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin was within 74-77% during January 2008 - February 2009; currently (February 21-22) it is 74%. Let us remember that there was a "leap" in the rating in March-June of the previous year: from 57% to 81%; and there were fluctuations between 80-81% in June-December.

The level of electorate support of Dmitry Medvedev remained relatively stable during February of the current year (53-55%); currently (February 21-22) it is 55%, thus it has grown up by 2% over the week (from 53%).

In January-February the "United Russia" electorate rating was 56-57%, currently (February 21-22) it is 57%. Other parties` ratings have slight fluctuations as well:  CPRF- 6-9%, LDPR - 4-5%, "Fair Russia" party holds constant 3%.   

The majority of Russians think there is no need for the early presidential and parliamentary elections (8%) -  those who often share this stance are democrats and supporters of "Fair Russia" (89% and 88% respectively). 13% consider that there is a need for such elections - CPRF and LDPR parties` adherents mostly express this point of view (9% for each). 4% of respondents consider that only parliamentary elections should be held earlier, only 1 % think that only presidential should be held.

Presidential elections: a year after

The majority of voters have not changed their mind with regard to who they would like to vote for as a president (81%).However, 11% are sorry about the choice. Among those who voted for Dmitry Medvedev the majority would not have changed their mind now (82%); this figure is lower among those who voted for Gennady Zyuganov (79%) and Vladimir Zhirinovsky (78%). Finally, all the Russians who chose Andrey Bogdanov say that they would not have voted for him (100%).

The main reason why Russians would have changed their decision is the lack of effective policy and that the candidate has not fulfilled his promises (30%). Those who say so are often G.Zyuganov electorate (44%).  The second reason is higher level of trust to V.Putin (28%) - this is the main explanation for those voted for A.Bogdanov (100%); every third among those who voted for D.Medvedev share this view (33%). Every tenth (10%) would have changed the choice because there are more worthy candidates - most of them are from V.Zhirinovsky electorate (22%). 9% pointed out the ineffective measures against crisis; 21% were undecided.

Work of the Government: successes and failures

Russians consider the main achievement in the work of the Government over the year to be the increase in salaries, pensions, benefits, and its regular payments (7% against 13% in 2008). 4% point out stable development of the country in general. Those who think that the main achievements are the victory in Georgian-Ossetian conflict, social sphere development, successful settlement of gas conflict between Russia and Ukraine are 3% for each group. This is followed by such successes as adoption of effective anti-crisis plan, national projects implementation, reforms of the Army, strengthening of defensive capacity of the country, fighting terrorism and successes in foreign policy.

The achievements that close the list are following: the right to host Olympics in Sochi, establishment of stabilization fund, new laws adoption, fight against corruption, development of mortgage lending program and building of houses, industry and science development, successes in demographic policy - 4% in the previous year (1% for each group); less than 1% state that it is roads construction and transport system development. The share of those who think there were no any achievements in the work of the Government has increased over the year (from 26% to 40%). 35% were undecided. 

The crisis is the main failure of our Government over the previous year (18% think so). Inflation that took the first place in 2008 (22%) now holds second position. 5% (for each group) point out rise of unemployment, layoffs, failure to pay salaries (in  2008 - 1%), decline in living standards, poorness, law pensions. This is followed by national projects failure (3%), corruption increase, social sphere miscalculations (expensive medicine, lack of preferential drugs, law pensions and so on), agricultural decay, gas crisis, industry stagnation (2% for each).

The following failures close this "anti-rating": growth of utilities service tariffs, transport fees, increasing housing prices, Army reforming failure, weakening of defensive capacity of the country,    ruble devaluation, war with Georgia, raise of duties for foreign cars, support of domestic automobile industry(1% for each). 18% think that there were no any failures in the work of the Russian Government in 2008. 43% were undecided. 

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on January 31 - February 1 and February 21-22, 2009. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.  The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

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