We introduce the most important findings of the nation opinion poll (those face-to-face interviewed – 1510 persons aged 18 and over, margin of error does not exceed 0.03), conducted in May 2005 at the assistance of IISEPS and Pontis Foundation (Bratislava). "No answer" and "Find it difficult to answer" alternatives are not available in the most of the tables.

ENDURING ECHO OF REFERENDUM
It has been eight months after the referendum of October 17, 2004 which resulted in Constitution amendment in Belarus. The Belarusian authorities take it now for a historical event serving foundation for Belarusian policy development and implementation, the most important stage of which will become the forthcoming presidential election...

AWAITING NEW ELECTION
Although it is still long before the presidential election (under the Electoral Code, it will take place not earlier than in one year), all potential participants have been already preparing to it. All of the candidates, however confident they are in their advantage, appeal to the electorate yet. Now, what are expectations of the electorate?..

WHO URGES PEOPLE TO PROTESTING?
The ghost of "color revolutions" has been haunting both the authorities and many opposition leaders over lately. The only difference is that the first are scared of it and the second call on it. All color revolutions from Yugoslavia to Lebanon took place through mass protest actions against the authorities...

ANTICIPATING CHANGES
At the background of changes taking place in the modern world, in particular in Europe and the countries of the former USSR, Belarus looks a country where time stopped, or at least slowed down considerably. Depending on the viewpoints, some call it "an isle of stability in the sea of conflicts" and the other – "black hole in the center of Europe"...

"TO LOVE OUR SWEET BELARUS..."
What is really needed for this? What is the attitude of the Belarusians to this country? We may find the answer...

NEARLY HALF OF BELARUSIANS STAND FOR ACCESSION TO EU
The issue of geopolitical orientation of Belarus, despite all assurances of the current authorities, still remains unsolved. As a rule, it is settled at the level of the elite. That part of it which lies among democratic opposition presently stands for integration into Euro-Atlantic organizations...

KEY TO ALTERNATIVE?
The answer to the question on firm positions of the current president is closely linked with how the Belarusians estimate their future in case A. Lukashenko remains the head of state after 2006. Under this condition, respondents estimated possible changes for 5.5 points in average...

NO ONE WANTS TO BE THE MINORITY
To which extent is the Belarusian society politicized? One of the criteria to find this out is to survey if the Belarusians discuss socio-political problems with their family, friends and colleagues. A quarter of respondents said they regularly discuss such problems and about one third of respondents answered in the opposite...

"RIGHT" ECONOMIC COURSE AND ITS RESULTS
Belarusian state-run media has been exalting socio-economic achievements of Belarus in 2004. Actually, statistics for the past year has revealed the growth of almost all economic indicators including incomes of various population groups. Thus, in dollar equivalent, average monthly wages has increased by almost 31% as compared with 2003 (from $123.8 to $162.3) and the retirement pension – by almost 34% (from $52.7 to $70.4)...

GROWTH OF PROTEST POTENTIAL
Next figures representing dynamics of estimate by citizens of their per capita incomes, shows that the socio-economic situation in the country progressively improves. Thus, for the past year, the number of those whose incomes lie below the level of social survival (minimum consumer budget) has gone down by 15.1 points and the part of those whose incomes are above this level has increased by almost the same percentage (14.7 points)...

PROPAGANDA IS PRIMARY, LIFE IS SECONDARY?..
Data of opinion poll brings to rather interesting reasoning. In regards to the listed social problems, most respondents noted improvement of the situation in the period of A. Lukashenko’s governance only in what concerns the first four problems. However, in each of the four positions, under a half of respondents pointed out to improvement of the situation and approximately every third respondent said that the situation didn’t change at all...

POWER IS GIVEN TO ENJOY LIVING...
As the polling data shows, people think that these are representatives of the public authorities – employees of the presidential vertical and law-enforcement bodies, deputies of the Parliament, company directors and organization heads – who received the greatest benefit over the years under A. Lukashenko. Military men and pensioners, being president’s electorate in their majority, also look good...

WHO NEEDS PRIVATE BUSINESS?
In accordance with polling data, many of our fellow countrymen – almost every sixth – have tried to run their own businesses over the past years...

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