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MP Nadezhda Savchenko tops rating of Ukraine’s politicians — poll

In the rating of popularity, she is followed by Lvov’s mayor, Andrei Sadovy (33% for and 48% against) and Odessa region governor Mikhail Saakashvili (26% for and 62% against)

Nadezhda Savchenko Piotr Sivkov/TASS

Nadezhda Savchenko

© Piotr Sivkov/TASS

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KIEV, July 12. /TASS/. Lawmaker Nadezhda Savchenko, who is a member of the Batkivshchina (Fatherland) faction in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) enjoys greatest support of Ukraine’s population, according to the results of a public opinion poll conducted by the Rating group to a request of the International Republican Institute.

According to the poll results made public on Tuesday, Savchenko enjoys support from 45% of respondents. A total of 34% of respondents are negative about her.

In the rating of popularity, she is followed by Lvov’s mayor, Andrei Sadovy (33% for and 48% against) and Odessa region governor Mikhail Saakashvili (26% for and 62% against).

Batkivshchina leader Yulia Timoshenko is ranked fifth, with a 23-percent support. She is followed by Prime Minister Vladimir Groisamn.

Least popular among Ukrainians is former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who enjoys support from mere six percent of the polled whereas 87% are negative about him.

Nineteen percent of respondents said they are ready to support incumbent President Pyotr Poroshenko. However only three percent said they approve of his activities.

Most popular parties

The most popular parties, according to the poll are the Opposition Bloc and Batkivshchina, with both being able to count on support from 14% of the polled in the event parliamentary elections are held next Sunday. The Pyotr Poroshenko Bloc can count on support from 11%, Samopomoshch (Self-assistance) - nine percent, and Oleg Lyashko’s Radical Party - eight percent. Thus, only five political parties can surpass the five-percent barrier.

Notably, in a similar poll conducted six months ago the pro-presidential party was supported by 14% of the polled. The Opposition Bloc and Batkivshchina were the second and fourth, respectively.

Meanwhile, the idea of early parliamentary elections is supported by 38% of the polled whereas 47% are against.

Earlier, the Opposition Bloc faction said it was ready to turn down its mandates to have the Verkhovna Rada dissolved. The Pyotr Poroshenko Bloc said however that the current Rada was elected according to a mixed principle and even is 200 seats are vacated the parliament will not be dissolved. Such move will only entail by-election in majority constituencies.

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