Russians accept the importance of certain proposals in each of the area; most of the key proposals touch upon social sphere.
MOSCOW, April 27, 2020. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the survey data describing what new amendments are viewed by Russians as important. The nationwide vote on the constitutional amendments was to be held on April 22, 2020.
As part of the study on the perceptions of the proposed constitutional amendments, VCIOM presents the data of a survey conducted on April 19.
Amendments to the Russian Constitution related to social issues
An overwhelming majority of Russians consider it important to adopt certain amendments related to social issues. The amendment concerning available and high quality health services is at the top of this list: 95% of Russians consider it important vs 4% who oppose them.
Another important social amendment is recognizing children as top priority in the Russian state policies. The state must provide them with social support (94%).
Ninety-three percent of Russians stress the importance of nature protection and Russia’s unique biodiversity (5% oppose them).
An absolute majority of respondents support statutory annual indexation of pensions 92% (vs 6% who are against it).
The state’s obligation to protect the workers and to set the minimum monthly wage at a level not lower than the subsistence level rounds out the list of top five amendments related to social sphere (92%v s 7% who do not think it is important).
Amendments to the Russian Constitution related to the country’s sovereignty
According to 88% of Russians, it is crucial to enshrine the protection of territorial integrity and inviolability; 9% do not think it is important.
Eighty-six percent of Russians think it is important to secure the Russia’s status as a state promoting and strengthening international peace and security; they are opposed by 12%.
Most of Russians support the idea that state officials must be banned from having dual citizenship and keeping their valuables and money in another state (83%); 14% disagree with them.
Eighty-one percent of respondents attach importance to the proposal banning the Russian judges from opening and keeping bank deposits in another country; 17% oppose them.
Seventy-four percent of respondents believe it is important to prioritize the Russian Constitution over international law; 15% oppose this idea.
Amendments to the Russian Constitution related to the Russian beliefs
Enshrining the Russian language as the language of the state-forming nation is regarded as an important amendment by 89%; every tenth is opposed to that (10%).
Protection of historic truth is recognized as important by 88% of Russians; 9% disagree with them.
The third position in the list of the most important amendments is held by the proposal to recognize the Russian culture as a unique heritage of a poly-ethic nation (86%).
Another amendment related to the Russian popular views is protecting the institute of marriage as a union of a man and a woman (83%); 14% of Russians do not see this idea as important.
Cultural distinctiveness of all the peoples and ethnic groups should be enshrined in the constitution according to 79% of Russians.
Amendments to the Russian Constitution related to political issues
More than half of Russians believe it is important to lift the restriction banning the former or current Russian presidents from running for president in the next presidential elections (64%); 27% of Russians oppose this idea.
Creating a public authority unified system is important to 62% of respondents; 22% oppose them.
Every second respondent considers it important to broaden the power of the State Duma (51%). Almost the same number of respondents report the same regarding the powers of the Federation Council (49%).
Relocating the seat of the federal agencies to a city other than the capital rounds out the list of top political amendments (42% support the proposal; 47% oppose it).
Russian VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 19, 2020, and commissioned by Expert Institute for Social Research. Results are based on telephone interviews with 1,600 Russians aged 18 and older. A stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers is 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 in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
Do you personally think it is important or not important to enshrine the following ideas in the Russian Constitution? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents; top 5 answers) | ||
| Likely to be important | Likely to be unimportant |
The state provides available and high quality health services | 95 | 4 |
Children are an important priority in the Russian state policy. The state is obliged to provide social support for them | 94 | 5 |
Nature protection and preserving Russia’s unique biodiversity | 93 | 5 |
Yearly indexation of pensions is mandatory | 92 | 6 |
The state is obliged to protect working people; minimal monthly wage cannot be lower than the minimum subsistence level | 92 | 7 |
Do you personally think it is important or not important to enshrine the following ideas in the Russian Constitution? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents; top 5 answers) | ||
| Likely to be important | Likely to be unimportant |
Russia’s protection of its territorial integrity and sovereignty, inviolability of state borders should be enshrined. Attempts to alienate Russian territory or any calls for such actions are not allowed | 88 | 9 |
Russia undertakes to support and strengthen peace and security around the world, to provide peaceful co-existence of states and peoples | 86 | 12 |
Ban on the Russian government and municipal officials to keep cash money or values abroad. Ban on the officials to hold dual nationality or a residence permit in another country | 83 | 14 |
Banning the Russian judges from opening and keeping accounts (deposits), keeping cash money and valuables in foreign banks, beyond Russia | 81 | 17 |
Priority of the Russian Constitution over international law | 74 | 15 |
Do you personally think it is important or not important to enshrine the following ideas in the Russian Constitution? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents; top 5 answers) | ||
| Likely to be important | Likely to be unimportant |
Enshrining the Russian language as the language of the state-forming people | 89 | 10 |
Protection of historical truth. Falsification of history, diminishing the exploit of people defending their home country are not allowed | 88 | 9 |
Recognizing the Russian culture as a unique cultural heritage of a poly-ethnic nation | 86 | 12 |
Protecting the institution of marriage as a union of a man and a woman | 83 | 14 |
The state undertakes to protect the cultural distinctiveness of all the peoples and ethnic groups | 79 | 15 |
Do you personally think it is important or not important to enshrine the following ideas in the Russian Constitution? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents; top 5 answers) | ||
| Likely to be important | Likely to be unimportant |
Lifting the restrictions to run for president in the next elections for a person who has held or currently holds presidential office in Russia | 64 | 27 |
Creating a public authority unified system | 62 | 22 |
Broadening the powers of Russia’s State Duma. State Duma deputies will be able to approve the appointment of the deputy prime ministers and federal ministers | 51 | 36 |
Broadening the powers of Russia’s Federation Council. Senators will be able to participate in the appointment of defense and law enforcement ministries and prosecutors as well as judges in the key bodies | 49 | 38 |
The seat of certain federal agencies may be in a city other than the capital | 42 | 47 |
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.