MOSCOW, February 01, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information concerning the feelings that Russians have towards V. Zhirinovsky; what values respondents think that he represents; what his chances at the presidential elections 2008 and his political prospects on the whole are.

V. Zhirinovsky is know to practically all Russians: 97%, this includes 15% who know about him, and follow his political activity (the portion of people who answered that way is at its highest among LDPR supporters: 54%), 77% know this politician, but do not follow his political activity and, lastly, 5% of respondents have only heard this politician's name. If compared with the data obtained in October 2006, the share of respondents who follow V. Zhirinovsky's political activity has fallen (from 28% down to 15%), and the portion of those who know about him but do not show any particular interest in his work, has risen at the same time (from 60% up to 77%).

Respondents most often cannot provide an answer to the question of what they would like to know about V. Zhirinovsky (in 73% of the cases). Another 16% identify that they already have a sufficient amount of information about him and do not need any additional information on the subject. The few respondents who do not belong to the first two groups are interested in learning more about V. Zhirinovsky biography and personal life (4%), election campaign (3%), his working results (2%), etc.

The opinion palette on the values that the LDPR leader stands for is not too varied: 6% of respondents assume that he cares for social justice and equality; about as many respondents suppose (6%) that he pursues his own ends. 5% of respondents see him as a defender of the democratic values and human rights, whereas 4% identify him as the ideologist of the Russian people's revival. There are also people who consider him to be the bastion of nationalistic ideas (4%). At the same time, 3% of respondents assume that V. Zhirinovsky has some good ideas but is not capable of bringing them to life.

On the whole, one fifth of respondents (19%) trust this politician (this share reaches 95% among LDPR supporters). If compared to the data obtained in October 2006, the share of respondents who tend to trust him, has decreased (from 26% down to 19%), whereas the share of respondents who are not too confident in him, has risen (from 59% up to 69%).

V. Zhirinovsky inspires negative emotions in the respondents far more often than positive ones. The most characteristic feeling associated with him is distrust (29%); sometimes he causes antipathy (14%), condemnation (10%) or scepsis (8%). Sympathy, respect (11% for each of them) and hope (7%) are among the most characteristic positive emotions inspired by V. Zhirinovsky. 27% of respondents speak of their indifference to this politician. If compared to October 2006, the negative perception of this politician has strengthened.  

The permanent electorate of the LDPR leader totals 3% of respondents: just as many respondents state that they "always vote for V. Zhirinovsky and his party". Another 6% sometimes vote for him and LDPR, and sometimes give preference to other parties and presidential contenders. 13% voted for V. Zhirinovsky and the party headed by him once or twice, and chose other presidential contenders and political parties in the rest of the cases. Three thirds of respondents state that they have never voted for V. Zhirinovsky or LDPR.

Every second respondent considers voting for V. Zhirinovsky at the presidential elections on March 2, as not at all possible (53%). Another forth of respondents (23%) is more likely not to vote for him. V. Zhirinovsky´s supporters constitute 15% from the total number of voters, including 4% who will definitely vote for him and 11% who will probably do so.

The majority of Russians treat V. Zhirinovsky´s chances for victory in the coming presidential elections sceptically: 57% think that will most probably lose the elections and 32% are not sure of his winning there. Only 2% of respondents expect him to win the elections, but only after a hard struggle. LDPR supporters estimate their party leader's chances the most optimistically: 27% of them think that he will win on March 2, however, even in this party's electorate, the majority of voters do not really believe in that being possible.

As far as V. Zhirinovsky´s prospects as a politician are concerned, the viewpoint that he has achieved a lot but will hardly be able to achieve more at the moment, is the most wide-spread one (nearly half of respondents - 46% - believe it to be true). Over a third of respondents (29%) consider him to be a politician of the past. Every tenth respondent, however, expects him to have good future prospects.

The majority of Russians associate the reasons for his long political life with his unusual and shocking behaviour and his constant appearance on TV. 11-13% of respondents explain his success with an assertion that certain political and authoritative clans use him to manipulate voters. However, 14 to 17% of respondents perceive him as a prominent independent politician, who represents real political power, and has a clear programme and a vision of the development prospects for our country (this point of view is especially wide-spread among LDPR supporters: 78-84%).

The initiative All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on January 26-27. 1600 respondents were interviewed each time in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.