(ARC-CPOD) Dec. 13, 2004 – Vladimir Putin keeps a high level of public support in Russia, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 69 per cent of respondents approve of the president’s performance, a one per cent drop since October.
(ARC-CPOD) Dec. 13, 2004 – Vladimir Putin keeps a high level of public support in Russia, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 69 per cent of respondents approve of the president’s performance, a one per cent drop since October.
Putin won a second four-year term as president in the Mar. 14 election, garnering 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. The pro-Kremlin United Russia (YR) currently controls 222 seats in the State Duma, a fact that has led to questions over a possible change in presidential term limits.
On Dec. 10, Putin ruled out the participation of Russian firms in Iraq for the time being, saying the workers could return “as soon as the necessary conditions are established from the point of view of security.” Earlier this year, several Russian companies withdrew from Iraq after several foreign nationals were abducted.
Yesterday, Putin signed a controversial bill that effectively eliminates the election of Russia’s 89 governors by popular vote. The provision will allow the president himself to nominate every governor, and await confirmation by regional legislatures.
Should a regional legislature reject a nominee twice, the president could appoint an acting governor, dissolve the assembly or choose a new candidate. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and former Russian president Boris Yeltsin have publicly criticized Putin’s plan.
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of Vladimir Putin’s performance as president?
Nov. 2004 | Oct. 2004 | |
Approve | 69% | 70% |
Disapprove | 22% | 22% |
Source: All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,555 Russian adults, conducted on Nov. 20 and Nov. 21, 2004. Margin of error is 3.4 per cent.
