Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

One year after elections Russians stopped calling the United Russia party a “party of crooks and thieves”.

MOSCOW, December 7, 2012. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data concerning the Russian attitudes towards the United Russia party: what they think about the party’s course; how they assess its perspectives.

Over the recent half a year no substantial changes have been revealed in Russian attitudes towards the United Russia party: 42% report that they favor this party (the share of new supporter is only 6%); 49% do not like it (and 15% have recently been disappointed in the party).

Today 15% of respondents have friends who are members of United Russia party. Most of them are perceived positively by others: honest (12%), single-minded (8%), full of energy (7%), responsible, responsive (6%, for each), educated (4%) and just (3%). Negative attitudes are rarely reported: most of them are as follows: toadies, careerists, not keeping their promises (3%, for each), “all of them are bosses” (5%).

The image of United Russia party is ambiguous: the same traits can attract one part of respondents and, on the contrary, spurn another part of respondents. The party program is equally assessed positively and negatively by different respondents (7%);  the way the party leaders behave in different situations, as well as their general image, is assessed by 2% (for each); the use of resources, including administrative resources, are pointed out by 4 and 3% of respondents, respectively. The results of the party`s activities are evaluated rather negatively: 25% believe that nothing has been achieved, at the same time 19% oppose this stance. The Putin’s support of the party is assessed rather positively: 2% favor his support. Over the recent eight months the following features have been assessed less negatively: corruptibility of party members (from 10 to 2%) and the way the members behave (from 8 to 2%). On the contrary, Russians increasingly point out that the party has not achieved any success (from 15 to 25%).

Positive assessments towards United Russia party are expressed twice often than the negative ones. Over the recent year the share of positive attitudes has dramatically increased, on the contrary, the share of negative attitudes has decreased. According to Russians, assessing the course of the party positively, the party has changed its top priorities since March 2012. Whereas in March the main policies seemed to be aimed at the revival of Russia (from 11 to 9%), today the key priority is taking care of people (from 9 to 13%). More respondents assess the political course of the party positively in general, not giving any details about it (from 5 to 9%). The attitudes of those who negatively asses the political course of the party has not changed much. The basic claims against the party are as follows: embezzlement of funds (5%), desire to hold on to power at all costs (6%), and pursuing a course of disintegration (4%).

Thinking over the interests that the United Russia party represents, most of respondents conclude that the party represents the interests of people in general (28%). Some respodnents still believe that the party represents narrow interests of members of the party (18%), big businessmen (12%), or government officials (9%). 

According to Russians, the political prospects of the United Russia party greatly worsened in March 2012: more respondents started to forecast its further weakening and stagnation, rarer – strength and development. Eight months later the situation slightly improved: the share of pessimistic views has decreased (from 27 to 21%), and the share of optimistic views has increased (from 29 to 37%). The positive outlook slightly dominates over the status-quo position (37 versus 34%); whereas in March the situation was opposite (29 versus 34%).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on November 17-18, 2012. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Do you have friends who are members of United Russia party, or not? (open-ended question, one answer)

Yes, I have friends who are members of United Russia party

15

No

85

If yes, could you describe them in two or three words? Please indicate several common features. (open-ended question, any number of  answers, % of those who have friends in United Russia party)  

Honest, conscientious

12

Ordinary, normal

9

Single-minded

8

Young, active

7

Responsible

6

Good

6

Responsive, ready to help

6

All of them are bosses

5

Smart, educated

4

I am a member of the party; I cannot describe myself

4

Just

3

They only make promises; people do not trust them

3

Toadies

3

Careerists

3

Greedy, mean

2

Other

8

Hard to tell

29

How would you describe the general political course of the United Russia party?

 (open-ended question, any number of  answers)

 

November 2010

September 2011

March 2012

November 2012

The party  takes care of people, they work for the good of the country

9

10

9

13

The main purpose is the revival of Russia (country`s development)

7

8

11

9

The course is good in general

8

7

5

9

The party is focused on stability and order in the country

1

2

4

3

Oriented towards reforms and development of democracy

2

3

2

2

Party of Putin

 

1

3

2

Social programs

3

4

2

1

Modernization and innovations

1

0

1

1

Holding on to power at all costs (autocracy)

 

5

5

6

Embezzlement of funds  

 

5

6

5

Generally negative assessment, disintegration of the country

3

7

4

4

Support of the rich, oligarchs and businessmen  

2

4

2

3

Blah-blah, no results

3

4

3

2

Anti-national course

 

 

 

1

No independent position; they do what they are told to do

8

2

3

1

Other

1

2

1

1

Hard to tell

16

17

23

21

In your opinion, whose interests and positions does the United Russia party represent?

 (open-ended question, write down everything mentioned by respondent)

 

September 2011

March 2012

November 2012

Russian population in general

26

25

28

Middle class

2

3

2

Ordinary people (salary workers)

2

3

2

Retired persons

1

Youth

1

1

0

Party members, their own interests

16

12

18

Big business, oligarchs

12

12

12

State

3

2

2

Public officials

11

14

9

Putin`s interests personally

3

9

4

Representatives of enforcement bodies, special services

0

1

0

Corruptonists, thieves

0

1

0

Other

1

1

0

Hard to tell

27

22

25

What is your current attitude towards the United Russia party? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

April 2006

September 2008

November 2010

August 2011

March 2012

November 2012

I was and I am a party`s supporter

29

44

40

35

36

36

I supported the party before but now I am disappointed

7

6

11

19

14

15

I did not support this party but now I am in favor of this party

12

11

8

6

5

6

I did not support this party before, nor do I support it now

32

23

21

30

35

34

I do not know anything about this party

14

3

5

2

3

3

Hard to tell

8

12

14

9

8

6

If you are in favor of the United Russia party, what exactly attracts you?

(open-ended question, any number of  answers)

 

September 2011

March 2012

November 2012

They deal with really good things

14

15

19

I like the basic ideas and the political program

8

8

7

This is the strongest and biggest party in the country

2

4

5

Unlike other parties, the U.R. has real power and capacities to influence the situation

2

2

4

I like the party leaders

4

3

2

The party is supported by Putin

4

4

2

The way the leaders of the party behave; the party`s example

2

3

2

Other

1

0

0

Nothing attracts me in this party

5

9

8

Hard to tell

61

57

54

If you do not like something in the United Russia party, can you tell what exactly?

 (open-ended question, any number of  answers)

 

September  2011

March  2012

November  2012

The party does not do anything useful; nothing for ordinary people  

20

15

25

Ideas and the political program

9

2

7

They use administrative and economic resources

3

2

3

Party of thieves and corruptionists

1

10

2

The State Duma leaders of this party

3

1

2

The way the leaders of the party behave; the party`s example

6

8

2

The party is supported by Putin

 

1

0

I do not like anything

 

1

3

Other

 

1

0

Hard to tell

61

62

58

What are the political prospects of the United Russia party? (close-ended question, one answer)

 

April  2008*

March  2012

November  2012

The role of the party will be weakening

3

27

21

The role of the party will be strengthening

61

29

37

The role of the party will not change

21

34

34

Hard to tell

14

11

9

**the question was: “A new president was elected in Russia – Dmitry Medvedev. Vladimir Putin will serve as prime-minister and will lead the United Russia party. In your opinion, what are the political prospects of this party?”

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!

Read the article in Russian