MOSCOW, January 23, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning what feelings Russians have towards D. Medvedev, what qualities they think he possesses; what values he supports and what his chances to win presidential elections 2008 are.
Two thirds of respondents (66%) knew something about D. Medvedev apart from his last name in October 2006, a little more than a year ago, this share has risen to reach three quarters of respondents (78%) in January 2008, including 17% who closely follow his political activity. Fixed interest in the Deputy Prime Minister´s work is more characteristic of the older generation ("60+") where it totalled 26%, than of the youth aged 18 to 24 years (8%).
D. Medvedev primarily inspires interest in Russians not as a politician but rather as a person: 14% of respondents would like to know more about his biography and family; 5% are eager to learn about his personal qualities. 9% of respondents are interested in his election campaign whereas 6% are willing to obtain more data on the results of his work. No more than 6% of respondents assume that they already have a sufficient amount of information about D. Medvedev. The majority of respondents, however, find it hard to name what they would like to learn more of about him.
The voters' trust towards D. Medvedev is increasing: 55% of respondents trusted him in October 2006 (including 12% who trusted him completely), now this share has reached 64% (this includes 15% who totally trust him). The portion of those who do not trust him has decreased from 21% down to 13% during this time. "Unified Russia" supporters as well as "Fair Russia" voters demonstrate the highest level of trust in him: +81%, -4% and +58%, -18% respectively. The viewpoint of LDPR voters split into two practically equal parts (+34%, -36%). The share of those who confide in this politician is less numerous among KPRF voters than the portion of those who do not (+32%, -36%).
D. Medvedev mostly inspires positive emotions in the respondents. Grown has the share of those who first of all associate with him such feelings as hope (from 26% to 43%), sympathy, respect (from 13-15% up to 21%), and trust (from 2% up to 19%) if compared with the results obtained in October 2006. The portion of people indifferent to him has decreased from 26% down to 13%. The Deputy Prime Minister causes negative feelings such as distrust (5%), scepsis (3%), disappointment, antipathy, condemnation (1% for each option) much less often.
The share of those who speak of D. Medvedev's positive qualities has also grown. The qualities most often mentioned by the respondents are intellect, intelligence (from 33% up to 43%), professionalism (from 31% up to 38%), his activity (from 16% up to 31%), his even temper (from 14% up to 22%), his being close to the people (from 10% to 17%), his simplicity and modesty (from 6% to 13%), modesty (from 6% to 11%). The different negative characteristics were only mentioned by no more than 1% to 3% of respondents.
The key points of D. Medvedev's image are intellect (74%), energy (73%), competence (72%), wide area of thought (71%), friendliness (71%), decisiveness (67%), the fact that he cares about our country's future (62%). The society has a little less confidence in his simplicity, accessibility (51% versus 9%), honesty and decency (53% versus 11%), downrightness and sincerity (44% versus 11%), straightforwardness and critic (42% versus 9%). 41% of respondents consider him to be an independent man of principle. 12%, on the contrary, think of him as of a corrupted politician. 38% of respondents see him as a generator of ideas, whereas twice as few respondents assume that he is just a commonplace functionary of medium capabilities.
Respondents mostly associate D. Medvedev with ideas and values connected with the social sphere and national projects. For 11% of respondents this means increasing the quality of education and medical services, 7% think that it implies an increase in the population's living standards, 5% associate D. Medvedev with the revival of Russia, 3% with democratic values. 9% think that D. Medvedev shares the same values as V. Putin.
The majority of respondents (77%) expect D. Medvedev to win in the presidential elections 2008. This includes 58% who assume that it will be a clear victory, and 19% who suppose that he will win but only after a hard struggle. Only 5% of respondents are not sure of his victory. And 1% believe that he will lose in the elections. The majority of all leading parties supporters foresay that D. Medvedev will be elected President of the country. This forecast can be more often heard among "Unified Russia" and "Fair Russia" supporters (84% and 78% respectively) than among LDPR or KPRF voters (68% and 64%).
The initiative All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on November 12-13. 1600 respondents were interviewed each time in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.
How well do you know Dmitry Medvedev? | ||
| October 2006 | January 2008 |
I know him quite well, I follow his political activity | 20 | 17 |
I know him, but do not follow his political activity | 46 | 61 |
I have only heard this politician's name | 25 | 17 |
It is the first time that I hear this last name | 5 | 2 |
Hard to say | 4 | 3 |
What else would you like to learn about Dmitry Medvedev? (A free-answer question, up to three options) | |
His biography, the main stages of his career, education, his family, hobbies | 14 |
His election campaign (political views, his attitude to the issues of social welfare of the elderly, young families, etc.) | 9 |
Information on his work accomplishments ("all that he has done", "what the results of his activity are") | 6 |
Personal qualities (to what extent he is honest, whether he possesses willpower, etc.) | 5 |
Whether he can ensure continuity of V. Putin's political course | 1 |
Whether he will become an independent president | 1 |
I already have a sufficient amount of information about him, I do not need any additional information | 6 |
Hard to say | 63 |
To what extent do you or do you not trust Dmitry Medvedev? | ||
| October 2006 | January 2008 |
I totally trust him | 12 | 15 |
I would rather trust him | 43 | 49 |
I would rather not trust him | 15 | 8 |
I do not trust him at all | 6 | 5 |
I do not know a politician like that | 3 | 3 |
Hard to say | 21 | 20 |
What feelings does Dmitry Medvedev inspire in you? (Up to two responses) | ||
| October 2006 | January 2008 |
Hope | 26 | 43 |
Sympathy | 13 | 21 |
Respect | 15 | 21 |
Trust | 9 | 19 |
Admiration | 2 | 3 |
Love | <1 | <1 |
Positive feelings, total | 65 | 107 |
Distrust | 5 | 5 |
Scepsis | 2 | 3 |
Disappointment | 2 | 1 |
Antipathy | 1 | 1 |
Condemnation | 1 | 1 |
Hate | <1 | <1 |
Negative feelings, total | 11 | 11 |
Indifference | 26 | 13 |
Hard to say | 17 | 11 |
What positive or negative qualities do you think Dmitry Medvedev possesses?(Any number of responses) | ||
| October 2006 | January 2008 |
Intellect, intelligence | 33 | 43 |
Professionalism | 31 | 38 |
Activity | 16 | 31 |
Even temper | 14 | 22 |
Being close to the people, ability to understand its needs | 10 | 17 |
Simplicity, modesty | 6 | 13 |
Honesty | 6 | 11 |
Decisiveness, courage | 7 | 10 |
Flexibility | 7 | 9 |
His detachment from the people, inability to understand its needs | 2 | 3 |
Passiveness | 4 | 2 |
Immodesty, boasting | 1 | 1 |
Narrow-mindedness | 1 | 1 |
Dishonesty | 1 | 1 |
Lack of professionalism | 1 | 1 |
Indecision, cowardice | 1 | 1 |
Unbalanced state/character | 1 | <1 |
Lack of flexibility | <1 | <1 |
Hard to say | 38 | 22 |
Out of each pair of qualities, please, choose to what extent each of them is characteristic of D. Medvedev. (One answer per pair, the share of those who found it hard to provide an answer is not included) | |||
More likely to be intelligent, correct, smart | 74 | 3 | More likely to be rude, cunning, tough |
More likely to be energetic, enterprising | 73 | 5 | More likely to be sluggish and passive |
More likely to be competent | 72 | 5 | More likely to be incompetent |
More likely to be broad-minded | 71 | 4 | More likely to be short-sighted and narrow-minded |
More likely to be benevolent and friendly | 71 | 4 | More likely to be unfriendly and gloomy |
More likely to be decisive | 67 | 7 | More likely to be indecisive |
More likely to care about the welfare of the whole country | 62 | 7 | More likely to be indifferent to the country's and the people's future |
More likely to be honest and decent | 53 | 11 | More likely to be Скорее cunning and canny |
More likely to be simple and easily accessible | 51 | 9 | More likely to be imposing and haughty |
More likely to be downright and sincere | 44 | 11 | More likely to intrigue |
More likely to be straightforward, critical | 42 | 9 | More likely to be servile, smoothtongued |
More likely to be independent and a man of principle | 41 | 12 | More likely to be corrupted |
More likely to be and intellectual, a generator of ideas | 38 | 19 | More likely to be a commonplace functionary of medium capabilities |
What values and ideas do you think Dmitry Medvedev stands for? (A free-answer question, up to three responses) | |
Increasing the quality of education, medical services, as well as carrying out national projects | 11 |
The same as V. Putin supports | 9 |
Increasing the population's living standards, "care for the people" | 7 |
Revival of Russia | 5 |
Democratic values | 3 |
Family values | 2 |
Accessible housing | 1 |
Negative reaction (there are none, the oligarchs' interests, his own interests) | 2 |
Other option | 2 |
Hard to say | 65 |
How would you estimate Dmitry Medvedev's chances at the presidential elections 2008? | |||||
| Total respondents | Political party supporters | |||
„UnifiedRussia" | KPRF | LDPR | „Fair Russia" | ||
D. Medvedev will win the elections with confidence, there will be no real political struggle | 58 | 64 | 48 | 45 | 58 |
D. Medvedev will win the elections, but only after a hard struggle | 19 | 20 | 16 | 23 | 20 |
I am not sure that D. Medvedev will win in the elections | 5 | 2 | 14 | 15 | 7 |
D. Medvedev is more likely to lose in the elections | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | - |
Hard to say | 18 | 14 | 23 | 16 | 14 |