 Post Election Optimism |
After months of nationwide rallies, court battles and a re-vote, Ukraine finally has a new, third, president. Millions held their breath anxiously as the Orange Revolution ran its course. Now, based on the results of the UO's January survey, our opinion leaders are fairly positive about what will follow in the wake of the political upheaval.
The vast majority favored the winner, former opposition leader Viktor Yuschenko, who is seen as a reformer. His opponent, Viktor Yanukovych, faired much worse in our mini poll, with only a six-percent approval rating. Additionally, over 80 percent have no qualms about how Yuschenko came to power and are primarily concerned about ending corruption and creating a clear set of legislative rules that they can rely on.
Although most respondents said that they weren't interested in international affairs, only 1 percent saw Ukraine moving closer to Russia or the CIS. Yuschenko continues to be seen as pro-Western. In the opinion of our opinion leaders, Kyiv will most likely go on to join the WTO as well as some other Western structure, like NATO or the EU.
The economic forecast is less clear-cut, at least in the short run. Almost one quarter of respondents saw Ukraine as becoming a "quiet backwater with steady but marginal growth." Another fifth see the country's future as "a well-known source of cheap labor." But over half didn't agree with either of these predictions.
More than 70% of respondents thought that today's political passions and national divisions will, with time, yield to political pragmatism and compromise. Perhaps this is the reason many think it is time to take the initiative. Almost 85% think it is time to invest or seek out new contacts.
With a new president, changes in the conditions of life for Ukrainians will be
A lot and for the better 54 %
Some improvements will be made 39 %
Not much at all 4 %
Thing may get worse 3 %
The situation will definitely deteriorate 0 %
Which candidate was your favorite?
Viktor Yushchenko 91 %
Viktor Yanukovich 6 %
Didn't like either one 1 %
Indifferent 0 %
Didn't have enough information to form opinion 1 %
What issue is most important for you?
Foreign policy 6 %
Clarity in legislation 10 %
The fight against corruption 71 %
Macroeconomic policy 12 %
Social support for Ukrainians 1 %
Do you think that, in the end, the elections were held fairly?
Yes, finally 41 %
More or less 49 %
There was serious cheating during all the rounds 7 %
There were no grounds for a revote 1 %
Don't know or care 1 %
Foreign businesses and organizations in Ukraine can now expect
The long-awaited chance to improve the country 29 %
A level playing field on which to compete 49 %
About the same 4 %
Nothing good 1 %
Let's wait and see 16 %
Now is the time to
Invest, expand 44 %
Make new contacts 40 %
Take it slow and easy 10 %
Pull out before it's too late 3 %
Keep doing as you always have 3 %
Ukraine can be expected to move closer to
The West 50 %
Russia and the CIS 1 %
Its immediate neighbors on both sides 37 %
Other countries 6 %
No one definitively 6 %
Ukraine will end up joining
The EU 9 %
NATO 3 %
The WTO 25 %
More than one of the above 54 %
None of the above 9 %
Domestic politics will become
Increasingly polarized between south/east and rest of country4 %
A bitter fight between old guard and new authorities 18 %
A realignment of forces based on contacts and necessity 38 %
A mad rush to join Yushchenko's team 4 %
A long but eventually successful road to national unity35 %
Within a short timeframe, Ukraine will be
Hopelessly dependent on Western aid to survive 6 %
A well-known source of cheap labor, lenient regulations 19 %
A black hole for smuggling and money laundering0 %
A quiet backwater with steady but marginal growth 24 %
None of the above 51 %
|
Read also previous issue' articles:
What Should Ukraine Do to Support Its Tourism Industry?
What Do You Miss Most From the Home Country?
Ideas for Solving the Insoluble
PUB POLL: Defining the dacha
The Pub Poll Waxes Romantic for
St. Valentine's Day
The Pub Poll Choices for Person of the Year
|
| |
CONTACT US |
|
|
|
