The All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion continues to delight with surveys showing the direction of changes in people's assessments of the political situation in the country. 1,600 people were asked: “What politicians were you entrusted with (or did not entrust) with the solution of important state issues?” and “Do you generally approve or disapprove of the activities of such a public institution?” In general, the results of the official VTsIOM survey showed an increased level of public confidence in the Russian army and the president of the Russian Federation.
How does the population of the Russian Federation evaluate the activities of the most famous servants of the people?
Top 5 politicians in popularity (VTsIOM 2016 data)
5. Zhirinovsky
The rating of popular politicians is opened by the shocking and scandalous Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky. Its activity is highly rated by 9.1% of the population (although this indicator has fallen by 0.4% compared to November). But 21% of the population would not have been entrusted to Zhirinovsky to solve important state issues - the highest figure among politicians. Even the party of Zhirinovsky, the Liberal Democratic Party, judging by the rating of parties before the 2016 elections, was higher than its head in popularity (14% according to August data).
4. Medvedev
Evaluation of Medvedev's activity is evenly distributed - rather 11.4% of the population approve of it, rather 11.3% disapprove of it. Both in the results of the survey on trust and in the rating of distrust, Dmitry Anatolyevich takes the middle, fourth place among politicians. The results of the survey may add to the prime minister a good mood, and he already has everything else to hold on to.
3. Shoigu
The level of trust in the Minister of Defense is growing compared to November 2016. If at the end of autumn 12.1% approved its activities, then in December it was already 14.3%. Moreover, only 0.2% of the respondents would not have trusted Shoigu to solve state issues.
2. Lavrov
The sharp-tongued foreign minister, whose statement has already become a meme on the Internet, enjoys unflagging popularity among respondents. If in November 11.7% of the respondents rated it highly, in December its popularity grew by 3.1%. Like Shoigu, Lavrov does not cause negative emotions among Russian citizens - only 0.1% of the respondents do not approve of his activities.
1. Putin
The President of Russia, who was included in the list of the most influential people in the world in 2016 as a person, evokes less confidence among the people than the sacred figure of power vested in the president. In general, 59.2% of the population approve of his actions, and this trust only increased compared to November 2016. At that time, the number of people supporting Putin’s actions was 3% less. It is worth noting that this is the highest number that managed to get the policy in the ranking. A very small percentage of those participating in the survey do not approve of Putin’s actions - 1.8%.
Rating of the most popular public institutions in 2016, VTsIOM data
5. Law enforcement agencies
In general, the population assesses the work of law enforcement agencies rather positively - 55.6% spoke in favor. However, almost a third (31.4%) of respondents are not enthusiastic about the work of law enforcement agencies - this public institution ranks third in terms of disapproval.
4. Media
Residents of the Russian Federation prefer to believe news from television, radio or newspapers - 65.4% highly value the information received from these sources. However, exactly a quarter of respondents (25%) are suspicious of the media. And you shouldn’t completely trust the news from the Internet either. According to statistics compiled by the program developed by an employee of the Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University Craig Silverman, rumors and the so-called fake materials (and simply lies) are spread more actively on social networks than materials followed by a rebuttal.
3. The Russian Orthodox Church
Despite the recent scandals with Peresvet Bank, catching Pokemon in the temple and building churches in the parks, the Russian Orthodox Church continues to enjoy a high level of public confidence. The actions of this public institution are approved by 71.9% of the population. And it does not approve, respectively, 15% - one of the lowest rates on the list of the most popular public institutions.
2. President of Russia
On the whole, the President of Russia both as a state institution and as a person enjoys the confidence of the population. As of December 2016, 86% of citizens responded positively to its activities. And they did not approve of only 10.1%, which is the lowest possible indicator of all.
1. Russian army
“Russia has two friends — the army and navy,” Alexander III used to say. It seems that most of the residents of the Russian Federation share the point of view of the emperor. The Russian army enjoys the highest level of trust among all public institutions. Its activities are approved by 87% of the population. And this is not surprising, after the "polite green men" and successful operations in Syria.
