Riddles about Putin’s plan

Actuality October, 15, 2007

Presently, Putin remains a national leader who trusts the majority of Russians. One got such an impression after the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (ARPORC) has published the results of the opinion survey about the so-called «Putin’s plan».

The main question was raised in wait for scheduled elections for the State Duma and after the sensational decision of the president to chair the party “United Russia”: do electors agree that the political course of Putin proceed?

What is the essence of this plan? 1 600 people in 153 settlements, in 46 regions, territories and republics of Russia were asked for report drawing.

Let’s start with, that about 60% asked know about existence of some plan. 15% of them consider that its essence foremost is in welfare gain of people, in strengthening of social development; 11% of respondents is sure that it goes only about economy development; 9% think that the president intends to enhance prestige of Russia in future, and 7% suppose that all strength goes to the revival of Russia. Notably, that 40% percent asked from a general number don’t have a slightest idea at all about an existence of some presidential plan of governing the country.

80% of Russian citizens are sure of expediency of such strategic planning, while the number of its opponents doesn’t exceed 4%. Thus, 10% of Russians suppose, that “the country already develops according to this plan, without any reservations”.

There are also 2% of Russians treating it quite negatively. An opinion, that the country develops according to this plan, among respondents approving activity of Putin as the president of Russia, is more widespread, than among those, who disapprove his work: 73% against 10%. Though in the group of dissaproving prevails similar opinion: 53% against 29%.

General manager of the ARPORC, Valerij Fedorov, cited some data by which about half of the Russians are interested in politics. It is a few less than 5–10 years ago, i.e. politics gradually leaves the priorities’ list of Russians. People have more time for everyday life: education, career, family. In Fedorov’s opinion, it indicates that the political system has stabilized.

In opinion of 42% asked, Putin has had an exact plan, we all now live to, from the very beginning of his presidential activity. Approximately as much respondents, 40%, think that Putin didn’t have any strategy before, he acted under circumstances. The plan has been formed gradually, and now the politics of Russia is built according to it. Only 7% asked Russians suppose that Putin doesn’t and didn’t have any plan, all his actions are a set of spontaneous decisions, not combined by a general intention and strategy.

It is noteworthy that the female half of asked, making 45% from a general number, considers that Putin has initially thought all over very exactly and his actions are consistently planned out.

39% of asked male is sure in the opposite. In other words, such an answer was motivated solely by male spirit.

The overwhelming majority of Russians (82%) which is informed about the “Putin’s plan” consider that Russia needs a general state strategy and plan of actions such as “Putin’s plan”, for example. Only 4% is sure that our country doesn’t require any plan at all to govern it effectively. Less than 1% of them is among the supporters of the party “United Russia”, by 13–14% electors of LDPR and “Just Russia” and most – 20% – in the electorate of CPRF (communist party).

The majority of respondents considering themselves the supporters of “Putin’s plan” is sure that it is the author who should realize this plan. There is 37% of such staunch supporters. “The government of Russian Federation should be engaged in this”, considers 30% asked. 19% suppose that soon comes new president to power who will start to realize the intentions of the previous president with enthusiasm, 7% think that comes “United Russia”. Almost the same stake of asked – 10% - is among the supporters of this party; this idea doesn’t impress the electors of CPRF, LDPR and “Just Russia”.

For electorates of CPRF and LDPR the opinion that plan realization is a prerogative of Russian Federation government is more characteristic. So consider about 40% asked. For the electors of “United Russia” and “Just Russia”, about 44%, the perspective of plan realization by Putin is in no doubt. Though not in the president’s role.

Most Russians, remembering dim years and unclear elections, are sure that the State Duma is in principle useless. But as soon as Putin headed the list of “United Russia”, public opinion changed. Magnitude of presidential power was opened before Russians anew.

Over the years of work on the president post Putin has made radical changes in the political system of Russia. Now both the real political power concentrates in the party system, and the government turns into the real powerful institute. “We indeed have the real political system”, experts say.

Majority of Russians treat such phenomenon as “Putin’s plan” favorably. Moreover the research of the ARPORC doesn’t confirm the opinion that citizens disbelieve the elections’ objectivity. The possibility of stealing of voting results is one of the last and the least popular reasons of citizens’ mistrust of elective institute, about which they recalled at survey. Thus central election commission of the Russian Federation is trusted by about 2/3 of respondents.