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Sky-High Numbers Continue for Russian Leaders
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Public support for both former Russian president Vladimir Putin and successor Dmitry Medvedev increased last month, according to a poll by the Yuri Levada Analytical Center. 86 per cent of respondents approve of the way Putin has handled his duties as prime minister, while 78 per cent are satisfied with Medvedev’s performance.
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, 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 Nov. 28, Medvedev ended his visit to Cuba, the last leg in a tour of Latin American countries. After Putin, Medveded is the second Russian president to visit Cuba since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Medvedev revealed that he signed several cooperation agreements—related to military ties, energy, telecommunications and transportation—with Cuban counterpart Raúl Castro, and declared: "Cuba has been and will continue to be one of our key partners in Latin America. (...) Relations are developing in a very dynamic way."
Polling Data
Do you approve or disapprove of Russian president Dmitry Medvedev’s performance?
|
Nov. 2008 |
Oct. 2008 |
Sept. 2008 |
|
|
Approve |
78% |
76% |
83% |
|
Disapprove |
17% |
18% |
14% |
Do you approve or disapprove of Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin’s performance?
|
Nov. 2008 |
Oct. 2008 |
Sept. 2008 |
|
|
Approve |
86% |
83% |
88% |
|
Disapprove |
12% |
14% |
10% |
Source: Yury Levada Analytical Center
Methodology: Interviews with 1,600 Russian adults, conducted from Nov. 14 to Nov. 17, 2008. No margin of error was provided.