POLL FINDS POPULAR DISCONTENT IN ARMENIA
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty
Aug 31 2007
Czech Rep.

The majority of Armenians feel that their country is on the wrong
track and do not expect its forthcoming presidential elections to be
free and fair, according to a new U.S.-funded opinion poll.

The nationwide poll, conducted by the Armenian Sociological Association
last month, is the latest in a series of quarterly surveys designed
and coordinated by the Gallup Organization. The U.S.

International Republican Institute (IRI) began commissioning them
last year with the aim of gauging public opinion on key issues
facing Armenia.

According to the pollsters, 54 percent of some 1,200 people randomly
interviewed from July 5-12 said that they believe Armenia is going in
the wrong direction. The same answer was given by a similar percentage
of people questioned in the previous IRI-funded polls.

Lingering socioeconomic problems appear to be the key factor behind
the gloomy mood, with only 23 percent of respondents saying that they
and their families are better off than they were early this year. And
only about third of them saw an improvement in the country’s overall
economic situation over the past three months, despite continuing
economic growth. Fifty percent said it has not changed.

Accordingly, socioeconomic problems top the list of Armenians’
concerns, with 35 percent singling out high unemployment. The
unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and rampant corruption were two
other major problems mentioned by respondents. Their most common answer
to the Armenian government’s perceived failings was a lack of results
in the stated government crackdown on corruption. Rising consumer
prices, controversial privatization deals and a "lack of attention
to the people" were listed as other major government failings.

The survey also found that most Armenians remain dissatisfied with
the development of democracy. According to it, more than two-thirds
of them believe that the parliamentary elections held in May were
not free and fair, and 60 percent think the upcoming presidential
election ballot will not be more democratic.

Nonetheless, only 20 percent of those polled were found to be
pessimistic about Armenia’s future. Forty-two percent described
themselves as optimists.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress