(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – About half of people in Russia say two men govern the country in tandem, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 48 per cent of respondents say Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin both hold the real authority in the country.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – About half of people in Russia say two men govern the country in tandem, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 48 per cent of respondents say Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin both hold the real authority in the country.
Only 12 per cent of respondents say Russia’s power lies in Medvedev’s hands, while 30 per cent believe former president Putin is the person who truly governs the country.
Russian voters renewed the State Duma in December 2007. United Russia (YR)—whose candidate list was headed by then president Putin—secured 64.1 per cent of the vote and 315 of the legislature’s 450 seats. On that same month, Putin endorsed Medvedev as a presidential candidate, and Medvedev said it would be of the "utmost importance" to have Putin as prime minister.
In March 2008, Medvedev easily won Russia’s presidential election with 70.28 per cent of the vote. In May, Medvedev was sworn in as president. His nomination of Putin as prime minister was confirmed by the State Duma in a 392-56 vote.
On May 7, as he celebrated his first year in office, Medvedev thanked Putin for his "unwavering personal support," and added: "I am sure this will continue in the future."
Polling Data
In whose hands is the real authority in the Russian Federation placed right now?
|
|
Apr. 2009 |
Feb. 2009 |
Jul. 2008 |
|
In Medvedev’s hands |
12% |
12% |
9% |
|
In Putin’s hands |
30% |
34% |
36% |
|
Both equally |
48% |
50% |
47% |
|
Hard to answer |
10% |
4% |
8% |
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Apr. 24 to Apr. 27, 2009. No margin of error was provided.
