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RESULTS OF THE NATION OPINION POLL CONDUCTED ON OCTOBER 23 – NOVEMBER 3, 2006

(1527 persons interviewed, margin of error does not exceed 0.03)

 

1. The Government of Belarus has taken decision on the construction of a nuclear plant in the Mogilev region. Some people support this idea and others not. What is your attitude to this decision?

Variant of answer

%

I support construction of a nuclear plant in Belarus

32.5

I don’t support construction of a nuclear plant in Belarus

47.7

It doesn’t matter

14.5

DA/NA

5.3

2. Has Belarus become a really independent state over the past 15 years?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, it has

68.8

No, it hasn’t

20.5

DA/NA

10.7

3. Have you personally benefited or lost from that Belarus has become an independent country?

Variant of answer

%

Benefited

49.8

Lost

15.6

DA/NA

34.6

4. What is your attitude to the actions of protest (rallies, marches, demonstrations, etc.) that took place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities at the initiative of democratic forces after the presidential election of March 19?

Variant of answer

%

Positive

19.5

Indifferent

29.3

Negative

41.2

DA/NA

10.0

5. Speaking two years ago in the Parliament A. Lukashenko said, “Adoption of children by foreigners is a shame for the state and we need to eliminate this once and forever.” At the same time, according to official data, there are over 80,000 orphans in Belarus and the state doesn’t have enough funds to support them properly. Don’t you think that the citizens of foreign countries able to provide proper support to these children should be allowed their adoption?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, adoption of orphans by foreign citizens should be allowed

60.5

No, adoption of orphans by foreign citizens should not be allowed

29.8

DA/NA

9.7

6. Do you influence decision-taking in your work/school collective?

Variant of answer

%

To a great extend

10.2

To a certain degree

30.4

Little

21.0

Absolutely not

23.4

DA/NA

15.0

7. Speaking recently at a press conference for Russian journalists, A. Lukashenko commented on Gazprom’s plans to increase gas prices for Belarus from January 1, 2007 and he then said, “Rise of prices for gas to this level means break of all our relations. At least, in economics.” Do you share this opinion?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, I do

53.3

No, I don’t

32.4

DA/NA

14.3

8. In your opinion, what will be the consequences of gas prices growth for your family and this country in general?

Variant of answer

%

I believe the government will find a way out and prevent any aggravation of situation for my family and the country in general

36.0

Prices for central heating as well as for other goods and services will jump up which will greatly aggravate situation in my family and in the country in general

34.9

Prices for central heating as well as for other goods and services will start growing which will slightly aggravate situation in my family and the country in general

23.9

DA/NA

5.2

9. What’s your opinion of A. Lukashenko’s statement at a recent press conference for Russian journalists: “If there are any tanks attacking Russia from the West, we will stand up and die for Russia. Our people should be ready to this”?

Variant of answer

%

I don’t approve and don’t support this

51.4

I approve and support this

25.9

It doesn’t matter

10.8

DA/NA

11.9

10. If a referendum on accession of Belarus into the European Europe is held tomorrow, how would you vote?

Variant of answer

%

For

36.0

Against

36.2

I wouldn’t come to voting

15.5

DA/NA

12.3

11. Would you like Belarus to make a Union with the countries like Venezuela, Iran and China?

Variant of answer

%

No

52.9

Yes

28.4

DA/NA

18.7

12. What nationalities are closer to you, the Chinese, the Iranians and the Venezuelans or the Americans and Europeans (the Czech, the Polish, the Lithuanians, etc.)?

Variant of answer

%

Americans and Europeans are closer to me

58.3

The Chinese, the Iranians and the Venezuelans are closer to me

11.3

DA/NA

30.4

13. Have you heard that the European Union is considering to deprive Belarus of benefits for export of its key goods, which may bring to significant losses for Belarusian budget?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, I’ve heard

27.4

No, I haven’t heard

71.9

NA

0.7

14. Do you know why the EU wants to deprive this country of benefits for export? (only those who answered “YES, I’VE HEARD” to the previous question were asked this question)

Variant of answer

%

Yes, I know

16.4

No, I don’t know

11.3

NA

72.3

15. Will you come to the election into Local Councils of Deputies which will be held in January of 2007?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

65.7

No

20.3

NA

14.0

16. Do you know persons who would be worthy candidates and for whom you would like to vote at the election into Local Councils?

Variant of answer

%

Yes, I know

28.8

No, I don’t know

70.5

NA

0.7

17. For what candidate would you vote at this election?

Variant of answer

%

For a candidate supporting A. Lukashenko

49.6

For a candidate opposing A. Lukashenko

18.6

For other candidate

12.5

DA/NA

19.3

18. If you would rather vote for a candidate for a party, then for what party?

Variant of answer

%

Belarusian Social-Democratic Party “Narodnaya Hramada” (A. Kozulin)

7.2

Women’s Party Nadezhda (E. Eskova)

7.2

Liberal Democratic Party (S. Gaidukevich)

6.2

Belarusian Ecological Green Party (O. Gromyko)

4.6

Party of Communists Belarusian (S. Kalyakin)

3.9

United Civil Party (A. Lebedko)

3.9

Belarusian Social-Democratic Gromada (Stanislav Shushkevich)

3.1

Conservative Christian Party of BPF (Z. Poznyak)

2.7

Belarusian Popular Front “Adradzhenne” (V. Vecherko)

2.5

Other party

1.7

None of these

31.1

DA/NA

25.9

19. Do you think representatives of all political forces including the opposition should be presented in election commissions?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

64.8

No

24.5

DA/NA

10.7

20. Do you think observers from all political forces including the opposition should be present at the polling stations?

Variant of answer

%

Yes

67.8

No

22.8

DA/NA

9.4

21. To what culture do you relate yourself? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer

%

Belarusian

64.2

Russian

13.6

Soviet

13.3

European

8.1

Other

0.9

DA

4.3

22. Some people are proud of being Belarusian citizens and others are not. Are you proud of being a citizen of Belarus?

Variant of answer

%

Definitely yes

50.2

Rather yes

32.7

Rather not

8.3

Definitely not

1.7

DA/NA

7.1

23. If you are proud of being a citizen of Belarus, what is that you are proud with? (more than one answer is possible)

Variant of answer

%

This is my homeland and the land of my ancestors

58.6

Good country and people

36.1

Country’s independence

9.6

Culture

9.3

Strong power

7.8

High level of economics

3.1

Other

2.3

DA/NA

2.5