66% of Russians want Putin to be president after 2018 — opinion poll

Russia’s head of state Vladimir Putin faces no current challenge for the office of president in the eyes of two thirds of citizens, an opinion poll suggests.
According to a poll conducted by the Public Opinion Foundation 66% of Russians would vote for President Putin after 2018.
Two thirds of respondents believe that Putin’s activity on the post of president meets the people’s interests. In the last two years Putin’s rating has considerably increased: from 36% in September 2012 to 66% in July 2014.
Most respondents (74%) noted that Putin’s activity corresponded to their expectations when they voted for him two years ago.

Over half (55%) of respondents say Putin fulfilled his duties better than during the previous two terms of office, the Public Opinion Foundation says.
Russians confident about Putin’s decisions and statements on acceding Crimea and Sevastopol (29%), the policy towards Ukraine (7%), the Olympic Games in Sochi (5%), enhancing Russia’s authority on the international arena and Russia’s foreign policy (4%).
Among positive changes, respondents note defense capability (49%), foreign policy (42%), social policy (21%), government (17%) and citizens’ security (15%).
Respondents say problems and negative elements remain in agriculture (31%), healthcare (24%), education and science (18%). However, the number of those who note negative tendencies in these fields has decreased by 1.5 times, sociologists say.
Director-General of the Institute of Priority Regional Projects Nikolai Mironov believes that the Public Opinion Foundation’s poll proves Russians’ growing optimism.

“For the most part, people note a better life and they are ready to find positive tendencies in the spheres where no progress has been reported lately,” Mironov said.
People feel far more confident about their future, calm and security. They hope that Russia will restore its status of “great power” like as “in the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire”, he said.
No dramatic upturns have been noted in Putin’s social policy. Further change of Putin’s rating will depend on the consistency of his policy, Mironov said.
“Russians will confident about Putin even if no progress is and if the situation worsens,” he said.
The poll involved 1,500 people from 103 settlements in 43 Russian regions and was held on June 14-15, 2014. The margin of error was 3.6%.