Russian expectations from the new government are moderate and positive.
MOSCOW, May 17, 2018. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a study devoted to the assessments of the performance of the government and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev as well as expectations from the new government.
An overwhelming majority of Russians are aware that Dmitry Medvedev was reappointed as Russian Prime-Minister (86%). More than two-thirds of Russians (71%) consider him as a skilled and smart person.
Every second Russian (49%) thinks that Dmitry Medvedev managed to put together a reliable team (33% disagree).
More than half of respondents (54%) assess the performance of the government in recent years positively (they are mainly United Russia supporters (75%)); 38% provide negative assessments.
Russians have moderate and positive expectations from the new government: 37% of respondents hope the work of the new government will be productive; 49% say that its performance will not differ much from that of the previous one. Only 3% are pessimists.
The VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on May 12-13, 14-15, 2018. The survey involved 2,000 Russians aged 18 and over, and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia (each survey – two days). 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 2.2%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
After his inauguration Vladimir Putin appointed Dmitry Medvedev as the Prime Minister of the hew government. Do you know/have you heard/do you hear for the first time about this appointment? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over |
I am well aware of that | 50 | 16 | 33 | 41 | 59 | 69 |
I heard something but I do not know any details | 36 | 64 | 43 | 39 | 32 | 23 |
I hear about that for the first time | 14 | 20 | 24 | 20 | 9 | 8 |
Now I will read you a couple of traits. Please, choose the one which best describes Dmitry Medvedev. Skilled, smart or narrow-minded, shallow (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||
| April 2017 | May 2018 |
Likely the first characteristic | 76 | 71 |
Likely the second characteristic | 16 | 15 |
Don’t know | 8 | 14 |
In your opinion, has Dmitry Medvedev managed (or not) to create his team: to gather those people who he fully trust, who he can rely on/? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||
| April 2017 | May 2018 |
Definitely yes | 11 | 9 |
Rather yes | 43 | 40 |
Rather not | 25 | 24 |
Definitely not | 8 | 9 |
Don’t know | 13 | 18 |
How would you assess the performance of the government headed by Dmitry Medvedev over the recent years? (closed-ended question, one answer % of all respondents) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Supporters of A Just Russia party | Supporters of LDPR | Supporters of KPRF | Supporters of United Russia | Supporters of non-parliamentary parties | Those who would abstain from voting |
Definitely positively | 12 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 19 | 7 | 2 |
Rather positively | 42 | 40 | 33 | 18 | 56 | 29 | 19 |
Rather negatively | 26 | 35 | 35 | 39 | 14 | 40 | 37 |
Definitely negatively | 12 | 12 | 15 | 32 | 4 | 21 | 30 |
Don’t know | 8 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 12 |
In your opinion, will the new government perform better/worse/in the same way as the previous government? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of all respondents) | ||||||||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and over | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million cities | 500-950 , 000 inhabitants | 100–500,000 inhabitants | Less than 100,000 inhabitants | Rural area |
Likely better | 37 | 25 | 31 | 34 | 39 | 45 | 26 | 28 | 36 | 35 | 43 | 42 |
Likely worse | 3 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
Likely the same as before | 49 | 59 | 58 | 52 | 47 | 38 | 56 | 51 | 50 | 52 | 46 | 44 |
Don’t know | 11 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
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!