[lbo-talk] Polls: Gorbachev and Putin

[" Chris Doss "]

Russia divided on Gorbachev's role as president

MOSCOW. Feb 29 (Interfax) - A recent opinion poll conducted by the Public
Opinion Foundation suggests that 18% of Russians sympathize with ex-Soviet
president Mikhail Gorbachev, 30% have a negative attitude towards him, and
48% are indifferent towards this politician.

The poll was held on February 21 and involved 1,500 respondents. Gorbachev
will celebrate his 73rd birthday on Match 2.

Thinking back on the Gorbachev era, 32% of those surveyed said that at that
time, their attitude towards Gorbachev was positive, 30% said it was
negative, and 20% were indifferent.

Sixty-three percent do not share the belief, common in the West, that
Gorbachev was an outstanding 20th century politician, while 24% think that
he was a great statesman.

But as a personality, Gorbachev arouses sympathy among 39% of those polled,
and antipathy among 35%.

Fifty-three percent of respondents said that Gorbachev did Russia more harm
than good; 21% see positive and negative results in equal measure in his
activities; and 11% said he did more good than harm.

Fifteen percent of those surveyed said that his main achievement was the
beginning of democratic reform, and 7% said it was changes in Russia's
foreign policy, including the withdrawal of Russian troops from
Afghanistan, cooperation with the West, the end of the Cold War, the
removal of the Iron Curtain, and the reunification of Germany.

Three percent of those polled credit Gorbachev with launching economic
reforms and giving the go-ahead to the development of small businesses and
market relations. Another 3% said that he "led the country out of
stagnation and gave it an impetus to change."

However, most respondents did not like the way Gorbachev "awakened the
country." "At first everything was going the right way, but then he ruined
everything, causing the Soviet Union's breakup," said some 47% of respondents.

Thirteen percent of those polled argued that reforms launched by Gorbachev
caused a socioeconomic crisis, destroyed the economy, spurred inflation,
and led the nation into poverty and unemployment, while five percent blamed
Gorbachev for initiating the anti-drinking campaign, destroying vineyards
and forcing people to make homebrew.

Many blame Gorbachev for thoughtless and unskillful moves. "He either
failed to carry his plans through to the end, or acted too vigorously,"
said 15% of respondents.


Rosbalt
Survey: 50% of Russians Say Vladimir Putin Perfect

SAINT-PETERSBURG, February 27. 33% of Russians say the most positive
quality of President Vladimir Putin is his youth, vigor, good health and
professionalism, according to a recent ROMIR Monitoring survey. 22% said
decency was the president's strongest attribute. 20% said that Putin looks
after the interests of the people, 15% said he did not have harmful habits.
12% said Putin was open, conversational and strong-willed.

50% of Russians said Putin had no deficiencies. However, 16% of respondents
said his character had an element of undecidedness. 9% said Putin was not
looking after the interests of the people and could not form a successful
governing administration. 1630 Russians took part in the survey which was
conducted in 100 cities and villages from February 12 through February 17.