MOSCOW, March 4 (Itar-Tass) – The number of Russian nationals who believe there is no alternative to President Vladimir Putin has grown over the past ten years from 42 percent of Russians polled in 2003 to 48 percent in 2013, the director general of the VTsIOM polling agency said at a news conference on Monday.
“Most people believe there is no alternative to Putin and cannot be in the near future – there were 42 percent of such people ten years ago and 48 percent now,” Valery Fedorov said, noting that “quite a few people believe there is an alternative to Putin – ten to 11 percent”.
At the same time, according to him 33 percent of participants in the opinion poll believe such a politician may emerge in the near future.
He said that out of those who voted for Putin at the presidential election one year ago, only five percent believe he does not keep his election promises. Thirty-two percent believe Putin is implementing most items on his program, and 60 percent believe he implements a certain part of them, Fedorov said.
Among the main achievements of one year since the presidential election, people mark a growing level of welfare, an increase in salaries, pensions and benefits. “Eleven percent have reported on that. Ten percent of the polled people marked success in fight against corruption,” he said at a news conference at Itar-Tass.
Growing prices and a high level of inflation (16 percent) were listed among failures of the year. The sociologist explained that according to statistics, the level of inflation “was not that high as earlier, but nevertheless it turned to be painful”.
“Eight percent place corruption, theft and embezzlement second (among the failures). While a low level of incomes and declining living standards go third, according to seven percent” of the polled citizens, Fedorov noted.
VTsIOM also studied motivations of the people voting for Putin in March 2012. He said confidence in Putin remains the main argument one year after the election. “The main reason is that of all the candidates people have trusted and keep trusting Vladimir Putin most of all. One year ago and now – this is the main motive mentioned by respondents,” he said.
The number of people who believe “Putin has no worthy alternative has doubled – from 11 percent to 21 percent,” he said.
“Concrete results of his activity come third. Ninety-six percent mentioned this earlier, and 19 percent - now. Personal qualities of the candidates are placed fourth: the number of people saying that he is the worthiest candidate among all has grown from eight percent to 12 percent,” Fedorov added.