BALADI NEWS
A recent Russian poll sampling residents of Assad regime-held areas found “unpopularity,” days after a similar poll conducted by a foundation close to the Russian government.
The Ria Fan news agency reported that the poll included a sample of 1,000 Syrians in regime areas, and was conducted by a Russian polling company in April 2020.
The poll showed Bashar al-Assad’s unpopularity, with only 31.4 percent approving him. 41.3 percent had a negative opinion, and the rest refused to answer. It is noted from the percentage who feared answering (and the percentage is high), that the survey is genuine, as the agency later tried to avoid conducting the survey due to pressure from the Kremlin, according to the source.
The survey results were as follows:
What are the biggest problems in Syria?
71.3 percent: corruption
60.6 percent: low salaries and increasing price of living
43.4 percent: lack of electricity
36.7 percent: lack of legitimate government
16.1 percent: not enough food
15.7 percent: lack of political stability
12.6 percent: terrorist threat
Regarding voting for Bashar al-Assad in the 2021 elections:
53.1 percent voted no
32.1 percent voted yes
When asked “What is your opinion about Assad’s candidacy in the 2021 elections?”
23.5 percent voted positively
36.8 percent voted negatively
39.7 percent avoided answering
On “the possibility of mass demonstrations in Syria against Bashar al-Assad”:
9.3 percent said it was very possible
27.8 percent said it was likely
10.4 percent said it was unlikely
28.9 percent said demonstrations have become impossible
23.6 percent said they were unable to answer
Responding to whether “Syria needs the emergence of new powerful politicians”:
70.2 percent said they agreed
9.3 percent did not agree
On whether “the president should begin negotiations regarding Kurdish autonomy”:
29.4 percent agreed
33.7 percent did not agree
On whether it “is necessary for the Syrian army to regain control over all areas of the country”:
30.5 percent agreed
35.8 percent did not agree
Source: The Syrian Observer.
