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RESULTS OF THE NATION OPINION POLL CONDUCTED ON DECEMBER 2-12, 2009

(1.514 persons interviewed, margin of error does not exceed 0.03)

 

1. Was the last year more difficult or easier for Belarus in comparison with the previous one?

Variant of answer

%

More difficult

52.4

The same as the previous one

38.3

Easier

7.6

DA/NA

1.7

2. Do you consider that Belarusian economy is in crisis?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

81.3

No

10.8

DA/NA

7.9

3. If you believe that Belarusian economy finds itself in crisis, then to what extent can it be considered the consequence of the country’s leadership economic policy of the last years?

Variant of answer

%

Virtually in full measure

23.7

To a considerable extent

27.9

To a slight extent

18.2

It is impossible to say that it is the reason for the crisis

10.7

DA/NA

19.5

4. If you believe that Belarusian economy finds itself in crisis, then to what extent can it be considered the consequence of the world financial crisis?

Variant of answer

%

Virtually in full measure

31.3

To a considerable extent

38.7

To a slight extent

10.2

It is impossible to say that it is the reason for the crisis

2.7

DA/NA

17.1

5. How does the economic crisis in the country tell upon the everyday life of your family?

Variant of answer

%

Seriously

41.8

Slightly

38.2

Does not tell on it

10.8

DA/NA

9.2

6. Where, in your opinion, do people fight against the economic crisis more successfully – in Belarus or in other countries touched upon by the crisis?

Variant of answer

%

In other countries

42.1

In Belarus

30.4

DA/NA

27.5

7. When will the economic crisis be over in Belarus, in your opinion?

Variant of answer

%

At the beginning of 2010

4.3

In the middle of 2010

10.7

At the end of 2010

13.4

In 2011

15.3

After 2011

22.8

The crisis is already over

9.6

DA/NA

23.9

8. Who, in your opinion, suffered most from the economic crisis in Belarus? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer

%

The poor and the low income population

39.7

The middle class

28.6

Young people

28.3

Businessmen, entrepreneurs in small and medium business

21.3

Elderly people

20.2

Pensioners

19.4

People with money savings, bank deposits

18.3

Middle age people

18.1

Low-skill employees

17.9

Employees of state-financed organizations

16.6

Employees of private organizations (enterprises)

14.1

Businessmen, entrepreneurs in large-scale business

12.8

Highly qualified employees

3.9

Employees of the government institutions and officials

3.3

9. Which of the listed events were, in your opinion, the most important ones in Belarus in 2009? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer

%

Rise in prices for day-to-day goods and services

59.7

“Swine” flu epidemic

48.0

Reduction of real wages and pensions

38.0

20.5% devaluation of the Belarusian ruble on January, 2

31.1

Deepening of the economic crisis in Belarus

22.8

“The milk war” between Belarus and Russia

15.9

Dialogue establishing between the governing body of Belarus and western countries

14.0

Refusal of Russia to give Belarus the remaining part of the promised credit

11.4

Giving by the International Monetary Fund a credit to Belarus

8.9

Non-recognition by Belarus of Abkhazia and South Ossetia independence

4.8

Belarusian European forum which was conducted on November, 14

4.6

Another event

0.5

DA

2.4

10. Is it a blessing for Belarus, in your opinion, that it became an independent country in 1991?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

65.5

No

20.6

DA/NA

13.9

11. If you think it is a blessing, then why is it so?

Variant of answer

%

The Belarusians are not a part of the Russian people

30.1

As an independent state we can become a member of the European Union

26.3

Another reason

2.5

DA/NA

41.1

12. If you think it is not a blessing, then why is it so?

Variant of answer

%

Belarus and Russia are one nation and they should not be divided

10.2

The economic position became worse after gaining independence

9.0

Another reason

0.6

DA/NA

80.2

13. What is more important – improvement of Belarus economic position or independence of the country?

Variant of answer

%

Improvement of Belarus economic position

63.4

Independence of the country

28.2

DA/NA

8.4

14. What state symbols (the State Emblem, the flag) correspond more, in your opinion, to the historical and cultural heritage of the Belarusian nation – the ones that existed from 1991 to 1995 (with the “Pogonya” State Emblem) or the present ones (reminding of the symbols of the BSSR)?

Variant of answer

%

The present symbols (reminding the symbols of the BSSR)

54.7

The symbols which existed before 1995 (with the “Pagonya” emblem)

27.7

DA/NA

17.6

15. How should the relations between the state and its citizens develop, in your opinion?

Variant of answer

%

The state must take care of all its citizens providing a decent level of life for them

53.4

The state must determine unified “rules of play” for everybody and see to it that they are not violated

27.0

The state should interfere as little as possible in the life and economic activity of the citizens

17.2

DA/NA

2.4

16. Do you think the changes which the authorities are going to introduce into the electoral legislation will raise the level of elections democracy character in Belarus?

Variant of answer

%

No

43.6

Yes

29.8

DA/NA

26.6

17. In your opinion, if president A. Lukashenko is reelected for the fourth term in 2011, it will be:

Variant of answer

%

Extremely useful for the country

10.3

More likely useful for the country

25.3

Hardly change anything

33.0

More likely harmful for the country

11.0

Very harmful for the country

10.9

DA/NA

9.5

18. If protest actions against worsening of the economic position take place in your city (district), are you ready to take part in them?

Variant of answer

%

No

77.6

Yes

14.2

DA/NA

8.2

19. In November, 2009 the World Health Organization (which is a part of the UNO) named Belarus among the countries touched upon by the swine flu epidemic most of all. Some people think, that Belarusian authorities turned out to be not prepared for that (did not manage to organize effective medical treatment, supplying with drugs and protective means, concealed information about the real scale of the epidemic thereby causing panic among the population), other people believe that Belarusian authorities acted efficiently. And what is your opinion?

Variant of answer

%

The authorities acted completely inefficiently

37.0

The authorities acted not efficiently enough

37.0

The authorities acted very efficiently

18.1

DA/NA

7.9

20. If one speaks about your family, then what do you and members of your family have for an object?

Variant of answer

%

To survive even if at the most primitive level of existence

7.0

To live not worse than the majority of families in your city, district

39.5

To live better than the majority of families in your city, district

26.5

To live the way an average family lives in Western Europe, the USA

17.3

To live better than an average family in Western Europe, the USA

7.5

DA/NA

2.2