More than half of the people in Ukraine think that the state is moving towards instability and do not trust the president, according to a poll conducted by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in July 2011.
The results of the poll were announced on Sept.13 in Kyiv.
According to the poll, 62% of its respondents think Ukraine is on the wrong track and moving towards instability (compared to 44% in 2010), while 12% said Ukraine is heading towards stability and prosperity (comparing to 21% in 2010).
The majority of the respondents said they are not satisfied with the political situation (70%), the economic situation (87%), and the foreign policy of the state (46%). Among the country’s most serious problems, those polled named inflation (74%), poverty (54%), unemployment (53%), corruption (49%), general economic problems (32%), political instability (20%) and external debt (11%).
In addition, more than half of the respondents do not trust the current authorities. Some 65% of Ukrainians do not trust the president, while 29% trust him. A total of 73% of the respondents distrust the current Cabinet of Ministers, Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov and Vice Premier Sergiy Tigipko, 70% do not trust former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko, and 78% distrust the Verkhovna Rada. Some 58% respondents do not trust the Central Election Commission, 55% – the Justice Ministry, 69% – the Ukrainian Education and Science, Youth and Sports Minister Dmytro Tabachnyk. At the same time, Ukrainians most trust the media (54%) and the local authorities, including mayors and heads of rural councils (50%), and city and rural councils (46%).
According to the poll, Ukrainians trust the Ukrainian president less than in 2010. Some 44% respondents are satisfied with the actions of the president in relations with Russia (compared to 66% in 2010), and 15% are unsatisfied (11% in 2010). Some 34% of Ukrainians are not satisfied with the status of Ukraine and the EU, while 28% are satisfied.
The percentage of those satisfied with the fight against corruption increased to 15%, from 12% in 2010.
According to the poll, a fifth of Ukrainians think that they live in a democratic country (21%), and 44% do not think so. In 2010 some 25% considered Ukraine as democratic country.
A total of 46% Ukrainians think economic development should be a top priority for Ukraine, and 31% think democratic rights are more important.
The poll was conducted on July 16-30, 2011. A total of 1,515 people aged over 18 years old were polled. The poll’s margin of error is +/- 2.52%.
