(Angus Reid Consultants – CPOD Global Scan) – United Russia (YR) has lost some public backing in the Russian Federation this year, according to a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation. 21 per cent of respondents would vote for the party in the next parliamentary election, a three per cent drop since December.
(Angus Reid Consultants – CPOD Global Scan) – United Russia (YR) has lost some public backing in the Russian Federation this year, according to a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation. 21 per cent of respondents would vote for the party in the next parliamentary election, a three per cent drop since December.
The Communist Party (KPRF) is a distant second with nine per cent, followed by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) with five per cent and the Motherland – National Patriotic Union (MDRT) with four per cent.
In the December 2003 election to the State Duma, United Russia—a new name for the Inter-Regional Movement of the Russian Federation—received 37.6 per cent of the vote and secured 222 members in the 450-seat lower house. United Russia openly supports Vladimir Putin, who was elected to a second term as president in March 2004.
On Mar. 18, State Duma deputy speaker Oleg Morozov—a member of United Russia—hinted at the possibility of an amendment to allow Putin to serve a third term, saying, “He really has this right, according to the Constitution, and has every ground for this: popularity, influence and the fact that he has proven to be a successful president.”
Current regulations limit a president’s tenure to two four-year terms.
Polling Data
Imagine that parliamentary elections will be held again this Sunday. Which of the following parties would you vote for?
Mar. 2005 | Dec. 2004 | |
United Russia (YR) | 21% | 24% |
Communist Party (KPRF) | 9% | 9% |
Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) | 5% | 5% |
Motherland – National Patriotic Union (MDRT) | 4% | 3% |
Agrarian Party of Russia (APR) | 1% | 2% |
Yabloko (Liberal) | 1% | 1% |
Union of Right Forces (SPS) | 1% | 1% |
Source: Public Opinion Foundation
Methodology: Interviews to 3,000 Russian adults, conducted on Mar. 5 and Mar. 6, 2005. Margin of error is 2.5 per cent.
