TRENDS

Interfax-Ukraine reports that 54 percent of Ukraine’s population does not support the idea of dissolving parliament and re-electing a new one. Twenty-six percent more or less agree with this initiative, which was introduced by certain political forces.

These are the results of a sociological survey conducted on July 10-14 by the Kyiv-based International Institute of Sociology together with the Kyiv Center of Political Studies and Conflictology. Altogether 2,095 people were polled, with a margin of error of no more than 2.2 percent. This public opinion survey focused on the current political situation in the country, Ukrainian attitudes to the newly formed “anti-crisis coalition,” and the possibility of dissolving parliament and holding extraordinary elections. It appears that 16 percent of respondents “completely agree” that the current parliament should be dismissed and new parliamentary elections held; 10 percent “agree somewhat”, 14 percent “disagree somewhat” and 40 percent “completely disagree” with this idea. At the same time one in five respondents (20 percent) is not sure. Among the supporters of Nasha Ukraina (those who said they voted for this bloc in March 2006) 38 percent are in favor of dissolving parliament and holding a new election, 36 percent are against, and the rest are undecided. Forty-two percent of Ukrainians who voted in March for the BYuT support parliament’s dissolution and a new election; 39 percent are against, while 19 percent are undecided. Respondents who are against dismissing parliament and organizing extraordinary elections belong mainly to the Communist Party, Socialist Party, and the Party of Regions. The results of the poll show that if parliament is dissolved and a new election is held, the level of voter participation will be lower than in March 2006. Here is a breakdown of voters who would vote in extraordinary parliamentary elections: the Party of Regions enjoys the support of 38 percent of voters, the BYuT — 17 percent, Nasha Ukraina — 7.7 percent, the Socialist Party — 2.5 percent, the Communist Party — 2.2 percent, Vitrenko’s bloc People’s Opposition — 0.7 percent, the Kostenko-Plushch Bloc — 0.5 percent, the Civic Bloc “Pora-PRP” — 0.5 percent, the Green Party of Ukraine — 0.4 percent, Lytvyn’s People’s Bloc, and the Viche Party and NDP Bloc — 0.2 percent each. A total of 4.5 percent of voters are going to vote “against everyone” and 23.8 percent are undecided. According to the same survey, most Ukrainians think that a cabinet will be formed by the “anti-crisis coalition.” Eight percent of respondents are sure that the coalition to form the government will include the Party of Regions, the Socialist Party and Nasha Ukraina. At the same time, 18 percent of Ukrainians believe that a “democratic coalition” comprising the BYuT, Nasha Ukraina, and the Socialist Party will form the government. Thirty-eight percent of respondents think that the government will be formed by a coalition consisting of the Party of Regions and the Socialist and Communist parties. Thirty-five percent of respondents are uncertain. Asked about which coalition they support, 8 percent of Ukrainians expressed their support for a coalition consisting of the Party of Regions, the Socialist Party, and Nasha Ukraina, 29 percent are for a “democratic coalition” comprising the BYuT, the Socialist Party, and Nasha Ukraina, and 37 percent support the coalition of the Party of Regions and the Socialist and Communist parties. Twenty-six percent of Ukrainians could not answer this question.