Over the years of the Putin`s presidency, V. Putin has become the most popular country`s leader. Despite of economic difficulties, Russians highly assess his performance, respect him, hope for him and trust him.
MOSCOW, March 13, 2015. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of the survey concerning the performance of Vladimir Putin, his achievements and failures, as well as feelings they have for him.
The level of trust of Russians towards V. Putin is still very high; according to the data obtained in March, 65% of respondents entrust him with the solution of the most crucial issues. This percentage is much higher than the scores of the previous years. The approval rating of the president has not fallen lower than 80% since April 2014. According to the first spring weeks (March 2015), it makes up 88%; thus, most of Russians assess the performance of the Russian president in a positive way.
The biggest achievements of the president involve stabilization of the situation in the country (15%), Crimea`s accession, policy towards Ukraine (14%). About 10% of Russians mention strengthening of the Russia`s global position (11%), improvements in Russians` well-being (11%), economic recovery (9%). Putin`s failures are as follows: inflation (12%), falling living standards (6%), economic crisis (5%), corruption (4%) et cet. However, more than half of Russians (55%) failed to name particular negative changes.
Most of Russians feel positive emotions towards Putin. The majority of Russians respect him (44%); about one-third of respondents hope for him (33%) and trust him (30%). Twelve percent of Russians like Putin; every tenth admires him. Negative emotions were rarely cited: disappointment (3%), distrust (3%), skepsis (2%), condemnation and disliking (1%, for each), hatred (less than 1%). Five percent of Russians are indifferent.
Thirty-seven percent of Russians are confident that Putin is concerned about strengthening Russia`s position in the international arena (in 2000 - 20%). According to 19% of Russians, Putin`s main concern is Russia`s economic position and preserving the order in the country. Others cite his concern about people`s well-being (6%) and democratic rights and freedoms (3%). Over a year, the share of those who believe that Putin is only concerned about staying in power has decreased (from 22% to 10%).
Putin has fulfilled the expectations of most of Russians during his term in office (68%). Only 14% say that their hopes were not fulfilled (from 27% in 2014). Other 13% recognize that they did not have any expectations from Putin. The index*** has doubled over a year (from 27 to 53 scores).
***Expectation Index reflects how much the expectations of Russians have been fulfilled during the Putin`s term in office. The index is based on the question “Have your hopes regarding Putin been fulfilled over his term in office?” Index is calculated as a difference of positive and negative responses and can vary between -100 and 100. The higher the value of index is, the more Putin has fulfilled Russians` expectations.
The VCIOM opinion poll was conducted on March 7-8, 2015; 1600 respondents were interviewed in 132 communities in 46 regions of Russia. The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
Trust towards V. Putin (% respondents) | ||||||||||||||
III.01 | III.02 | III.03 | III.04 | III.05 | III.06 | III.07 | III.08 | III.09 | III.10 | III.11 | III.12 | III.13 | III.14 | III.15 (28.II-1.III, 7-8.III) |
53 | 48 | 57 | 58 | 45 | 47 | 53 | 55 | 53 | 55 | 49 | 54 | 46 | 59 | 65 |
Approval of the work of V. Putin (% respondents) | ||||||||||||||
III.01 | III.02 | III.03 | III.04 | III.05 | III.06 | III.07 | III.08 | III.09 | III.10 | III.11 | III.12 | III.13 | III.14 | III.15 (28.II-1.III, 7-8.III) |
80 | 79 | 80 | 74 | 68 | 73 | 9 | 56 | 73 | 73 | 66 | 64 | 64 | 76 | 88 |
What are positive changes in the life of the country over the recent year related to Vladimir Putin? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | ||||
| 2008 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Stabilization in the country | 14 | 5 | 16 | 15 |
Crimea`s accession; settlement of Ukrainian conflict; foreign policy | - | - | - | 14 |
Russia’s global position has strengthened; foreign policy has improved | 12 | 3 | 10 | 11 |
Improvements in well-being of Russians; increase in salaries, pensions, benefits; life has got better | 25 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
Economic, industrial, agricultural recovery; economic growth | 9 | 3 | 5 | 9 |
Army reform; increase of country`s defense capacity | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Successful social reforms | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Hosting Winter Olympics |
|
| 8 | 3 |
Demographic problems are being solved; support for mothers, young families | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Development of cities and rural areas | - | - | - | 2 |
Timely payment of salaries, pensions, benefits | 7 | - | 3 | 2 |
Levels of patriotism have increased; social cohesion | - | - | - | 2 |
Successes in combating corruption | 1 | 10 | 1 | 2 |
Improvements in country`s legislation | - | - | - | 1 |
Country has become richer, more prosperous | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Sports development | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Stabilization in Chechnya | 3 | - | 1 | 1 |
Development of Far East | - | - | 1 | <1 |
Decreased unemployment rate | 2 | 1 | 1 | <1 |
More possibilities to get mortgage loan | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
Successes in fighting terrorism | 1 | - | 1 | - |
Everything he does is good | - | - | - | 2 |
No positive changes | 1 | 12 | 3 | 3 |
Other | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Don`t know | 36 | 46 | 39 | 33 |
Can you cite the negative changes in the life of the country over the recent year related to Vladimir Putin? (open-ended question, any number of answers) | ||||
| 2008 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Price increase, inflation, ruble crash | 4 | 16 | 10 | 12 |
Low income, fall in living standards | 10 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
Economy in decline, crisis | - | - | 3 | 5 |
Corruption, theft | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 |
Problems caused by Russia`s intervention in Ukrainian affairs, Crimea incorporation | - | - | - | 4 |
No development, political crisis | - | - | 2 | 2 |
Increase in unemployment rate, job cut (unemployment, lack of job, job cut) | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Unaffordable free education and medical services, low quality of services | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Impoverishment of population, huge gap between the rich and the poor | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Breakdown of industry and agriculture | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Weak control, laws do not work | - | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Weak social policies, no social protection | - | - | 2 | 1 |
Unaffordable lending, mortgage, tax increase | - | - | - | 1 |
Problem of migrants, Ukrainian refugees | - | - | - | 1 |
High tariffs for housing and utility |
| 5 | 3 | 1 |
Deterioration of Russia`s image | - | - | - | 1 |
Dependence of economy on resources |
|
|
| 1 |
People alcoholization | - | 1 | 1 | <1 |
Crime rate increase | 1 | 1 | 1 | <1 |
High costs of the Winter Olympics |
|
| 1 | <1 |
Low quality of medical services and education | 1 | 1 | 2 | - |
Migration policy | - | 1 | 1 | - |
Unaffordable housing | 2 | - | 1 | - |
No negative changes | 2 | 4 | 2 | 9 |
Other | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Don`t know | 67 | 51 | 53 | 55 |
What feelings do you have for Vladimir Putin today? (closed-ended question, not more than two answers) | ||||||||
| May 2008 | March 2010 * | September 2011 | January 2012 | March 2012 | October 2013 * | March 2014 | March 2015 |
respect | 49 | 45 | 31 | 31 | 45 | 36 | 34 | 44 |
hope | 27 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 26 | 26 | 30 | 33 |
trust | 23 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 33 | 19 | 21 | 30 |
liking | 21 | 24 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 12 |
admiration | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 10 |
live | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
indifference | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 5 |
disappointment | 2 | 6 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
distrust | 2 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 3 |
skepsis | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
condemnation | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
disliking | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
hatred | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | <1 | 1 | <1 |
Don`t know | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
*the question was «What feelings do you have for V. Putin as a politician?”
In your opinion, what is the first thing V. Putin is concerned about? (closed-ended question, one answer) | |||
| November 2000 ** | March 2014 | March 2015 |
Russia`s global status | 20 | 33 | 37 |
Order in the country | 23 | 22 | 19 |
Country`s economic situation | 17 | 13 | 19 |
Preserving his power | 16 | 22 | 10 |
Financial situation of population | 7 | 3 | 6 |
Democratic rights and freedoms | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Other | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Don`t know | 14 | 4 | 5 |
**in 2000, the sample size was 1000 persons.
Have your hopes regarding Putin been fulfilled over his term in office? (closed-ended question, one answer) | ||||||||
| 2003 | 2004 | 2006 | 2008 | 2011 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 |
Definitely yes | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 21 |
Rather yes | 43 | 42 | 47 | 45 | 37 | 38 | 41 | 47 |
Rather no | 20 | 20 | 17 | 14 | 22 | 26 | 17 | 9 |
Definitely no | 8 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 10 | 5 |
I had no hopes | 10 | 13 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 15 | 13 |
Don`t know | 9 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Index*** | 24 | 24 | 36 | 41 | 4 | 6 | 27 | 53 |
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!