We introduce the most important findings of the opinion poll among public opinion leaders and experts (those inter-viewed are over 60 policymakers, mass media leaders, scientists and businessmen almost equally representing private and public sectors), conducted IISEPS in January of 2005. "No answer" and "Find it difficult to answer" alternatives are not available in the most of the tables

PRESIDENT'S PROSPECTS IN BELARUS: OPINION OF THE ELITE
According to the polling results, absolute majority of leaders and experts (90%) are convinced that the nearest presidential election in Belarus will take place in 2006, as it is stated in the legislation. Within the private sector, 84% of respondents stick to the same viewpoint that is slightly less than within public sector (97%) and 13% say that the election will be conducted one year earlier. Within the public sector, only 3% of respondents think in the same...

"ORANGE PROSPECTS" IN BELARUS
The analysis given is based on numerous researches and contacts undertaken by the IISEPS. Its goal is rendering assistance to all concerned agents of influence in Belarus in determining and promoting a feasible scenario of political changes in Belarus...

IT ALL DEPENDS ON VOTER'S STANDPOINT
Soon after the referendum it turned obvious that President A. Lukashenko was not going to make fundamental changes to his political course. The objectives he aired (improvement of the situation in the educational and healthcare systems and struggle against bureaucrats) were merely a set of beauty aids to improve the government system. New initiatives (ban on rehabilitation of Belarusian children abroad, toughening the procedure of getting funds from abroad and amendment to the law on internal troops) demonstrated willingness to avert the processes that would weaken in the future his undivided authority...

ELITE NO MORE TRUSTS THE AUTHORITIES, YET IT DOESN'T BELIEVE IN CHANGES
One of the major reasons of why the president’s “magnificent victory” in the referendum and parliamentary election announced by the Central Election Commission didn’t arouse protest of the Belarusian voters was that they didn’t have the impression of being cheated. As a result, the country received a legislative body different from the one many Belarusians voted for...

INTEGRATION PROSPECTS: WITH EUROPE OR WITH RUSSIA?
As we have many times mentioned in our bulletins, Belarusian citizens have turned less concerned in Russia-Belarus integration over lately. Thus, at the end of 2002 almost 52% of respondents stood for close political and economic ties between the two countries while two years later – under 48%...

DOES BELARUSIAN ECONOMICS DEVELOP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION?
Lately, state-run press has been giving exalted comments on the socio-economic results of the past year over. Truly, the statistics shows that almost all economic indicators – including incomes of various population groups – have increased. Thus, the average monthly wages per year (in US dollars) has increased by 31% and the average funded retirement pension – even by 34%...

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