Over half of Russians see no changes in Putin's governing style during 3rd presidency - poll
MOSCOW. May 6 (Interfax) - More than half of Russians - 56% - polled by the Public Opinion Foundation believe that the first year of Vladimir Putin's current presidential term has not revealed any changes in the way he governs the country compared to his previous presidential terms.
Another 16% of the respondents believe Putin is doing basically better as president compared to the previous two presidential terms, and the same number of respondents think the opposite.
Among those who mentioned improvements, some attribute this to Putin's growing experience in governing the country, and others believe he is determined to make the lives of ordinary people better, defeat corruption, and establish order in the country.
The poll of 1,500 respondents, which the Public Opinion Foundation conducted in 100 populated areas in 43 regions of Russia on April 27-28, revealed that for 50% of Russians, Putin's performance in the presidential office is basically what they expected from him a year ago, while 34% say the opposite. In the view of 44% of the respondents, Putin is guided by the people's opinions in his work, while 42% do not think that this is an important factor for him. "These figures have significantly changed since March 2003, when the ratio was 53% to 29%," the foundation said.
More than three quarters of those polled - 76% - said they are confident that Putin has his own "team", i.e. people whom he trusts and on whom he can rely in his work. Half of the respondents (50%) believe that there are people in Putin's entourage who can influence him and his decisions, with 8% mentioning as such Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, 4% "rich people and oligarchs," 3% "his retinue and associates," 2% Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, and 1% each presidential chief of staff Sergei Ivanov, Rusnano chief Anatoly Chubais, former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Asked to recall Putin's actions and decisions that have impressed them more than others in the past year, 7% of the respondents mentioned an anti-corruption campaign, 5% each the raising of salaries and pensions and "a good social policy," 2% each the way economic challenges and housing and utilities problems are addressed, tougher control over activities of public officials and parliamentarians, and the right foreign policy. Another 59% were undecided.
The Russian Central Elections Commission officially endorsed the results of the March 4, 2012 presidential elections on March 7, saying that Putin had garnered 63.6% of the vote.
Putin's inauguration ceremony took place at the Kremlin on May 7, 2012.