Russians expect Putin to carry on his course - poll
MOSCOW. April 5 (Interfax) - Fifty-four percent of Russians do not expect a stiffening of the regime with Vladimir Putin's return to presidency; 33% do not rule out that possibility and 27% say they will be immune from such, the Levada Center told Interfax on Tuesday.
Sixty-six percent of the respondents expect Putin to continue the policy of the previous 12 years (the indicator stood at 76% a month ago). Fifty-two percent do not expect a reshuffle of the Putin team, while 32% have the opposite expectations and think that the new president will bring new energetic and honest people to the government.
Respondents highlighted the following areas, on which President Putin should concentrate, - economic growth (59%), the suppression of corruption (46%), the restoration of social justice and improved life of average people (44%), the restoration of order in the country (42%) and the observation of laws both by citizens and the authorities (28%).
People also want the new president to pay attention to anti-crime measures (23%), the development of science, culture and education (21%), the strengthening of the national defense ability (19%), the strengthening of the Russian position on the international arena (18%), and the spiritual rebirth of Russia (13%).
Sixty-eight percent recommend Putin discuss his policy with the public, protesters and opposition leaders, and 17% are against that. Forty-four percent hope that Putin will initiate such discussions, 35% do not think that and 15% believe that Putin will avenge the opposition for criticizing him in the elections period.
Fifty-three percent said they would not mind Putin taking full power into his hands, which, in their opinion, would be good for the country. Twenty-six percent disagreed.
The indicators stood at 68% and 20% after Putin's victory in the presidential elections 2004, Levada Center said.
Forty-three percent of respondents want the third presidential term to be the last for Putin and wish for the election of a new president six years from now. Seventeen percent do not mind another presidential term of Putin, and six percent are not against his replacement with Dmitry Medvedev in 2018. Thirty-four percent are unable to answer the question.