Monthly Archive: November 2002

The survey reveals that the overwhelming majority of leaders and experts, regardless of the structures they represent, is not satisfied with A. Lukashenko’s ruling (See Table 1.) Although the number of those dissatisfied is lower among representatives of the public sector, the figure is still impressive – 69%.

As the survey shows, almost all leaders and experts are against the idea of unification of Belarus and Russia into a single state (See Table 1). Almost 60% speak out for common good neighborly relations of two independent states, about 40% – for closer relations in the form of a union of two independent states. Clearly, representatives of the private sector prefer the first variant (74%), representatives of the public sector – support the second variant (55%). There are only 3% of those who favor the idea of unification.

The upcoming local election will become the first mass political campaign after the 2001 presidential election and is likely to be an examination of public moods and efficiency of political parties. The society, as our September nation public opinion poll shows, looks at the local election with a reserved optimism. In September 60% of the respondents said they were ready to take part in it, and by the spring 2003 the figure is most likely to grow.

From time to time disputes about A. Lukashenko’s third presidential term flame up and abate being overshadowed by more important events, but they do not disappear from political agenda. According to the poll findings, today Belarus’ elite is almost unanimous in the opinion that A. Lukashenko will press for the third presidential term – more than 80% of the respondents gave a positive answer to such question, whereas only 3% answered in the negative (See Table 1).