Public Opinion Poll 2000 Public Opinion Poll commissioned

Public Opinion Poll - 2000 Public Opinion Poll commissioned by the Institute for Public Policy Republic of Moldova August 2000 1

The Institute for Public Policy is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization, committed to the values of individual liberty, democratic society, rule of law, free market economy. Through research, publications, policy recommendations and public forums the Institute provides political, business, academic community and media leadership with a deep analysis of public policy issues confronting our society in order to improve the policymaking process. The activity of the Public Policy Institute is focused on the following fields: educational policies, European integration, conflict resolution (Transdnistrian problem), public health, social protection, corruption control, budgetary and fiscal policies. Public opinion polls are supposed to be conducted in all these fields. The Institute has working relations with similar institutions and organizations in the public policy field from many European countries, in order to exchange information and expertise, to develop new comparative studies and promote regional policies. In 1998 a public opinion research program – Barometer of Public Opinion – was launched by Soros Foundation Moldova, in order to promote correct and transparent mechanisms of political and economic life reflection, and to ensure, at the same time, public access to information in a civil society. The two first polls were carried out in 1998 by CURS and IMAS from Bucharest in cooperation with SOCIO MOLDOVA from Chisinau. The studies were focused on the following issues: rating of political leaders and main political parties, living standards and life quality, living styles, evaluation of economic and social policies, evaluation of public institutions, etc. The results of these polls were presented at press conferences. Media and public opinion representatives have had full and free access to the poll’s initial database. Taking into consideration the impact and importance of such researches, the Institute for Public Policy organized in August 2000 a new national public opinion poll, that was supported financially by Soros Foundation Moldova and carried out by the Institute for Marketing and Polls – IMAS from Bucharest in cooperation with SOCIO MOLDOVA from Chisinau. The program “Barometer of Public Opinion 2000” is supervised by a Jury including Dr. Arcadie Barbarosie, Dr. Ludmila Malcoci, Dr. Valentin Turcanu, Dr. Valeriu Mindru and Mr. Nicolae Chirtoaca. The Jury is to assess the way of conducting a public opinion poll, the results of this poll, to select the best institution that will carry out the poll. Dr. Viorel Cibotaru is in charge of program coordination. Contact information: Tel. (3732) 27 67 85 Fax (3732) 27 05 07 E-mail ipp@ipp. md Mail address: 28 Bulgara str. , Chisinau, MD 2001, Republic of Moldova 2

Do you consider the direction the country is moving towards as right or wrong? 3

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Which are things you are most concerned about at present? 5

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How satisfied are you with the overall state of your life? 7

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How do you evaluate the current income of your family? It is not enough even for the essential It is enough only for the essential It is sufficient for a decent living, but we cannot afford buying more expensive things We succeed in buying some more expensive things by cutting spending in other areas We can afford having everything we need with no restrictions I don’t know/No response 9

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How is your life at present compared to the one of a year ago? 11

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In your opinion, how will you be living in a year? 13

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Some people are poor. Why does this happen in your view? 15

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To what degree do you agree with the following statements… It is good to have a market economy Privatization allows common people to have a decent living Privatization is only a means of transferring the country wealth into the property of some people with positions and relations 17

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There has been a lot of talk about corruption at different levels of late. In your opinion, the greatest number of corrupt people are to be found…? At the top levels of administration At the level of the officers who have to deal with public 19

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Some people think that wealth has been gained through hard work, others- through relations, luck or through breaking the law. In your personal view, the majority of wealthy people in Moldova have gained wealth through…? 21

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If you had a real chance of leaving the country, what would you do? 23

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Who is the political figure in the Republic of Moldova you trust the most? Open end question 25

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How much trust do you have in the following political figures? 27

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In your opinion, before 1991, before the proclamation of independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova, the situation was better or worse in terms of. . . Living standards Freedom of people Quality of country governance 29

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You would rather consider yourself a citizen of. . . 31

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How much trust do you have in …? 33

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In your opinion, which of the political parties or groups in the country is able today to contribute to the process of overcoming the crisis? Open end question 35

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If parliamentary elections were conducted in Moldova this year, would you vote? 37

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If parliamentary elections were conducted in Moldova next Sunday, what political party would you vote for? The percentage was calculated out of the total of those who chose an option. 56% of the respondents answered that they wouldn’t vote or that they haven’t decided yet. 39

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Do you think that parliamentary elections could be more successful if they were conducted on party lists or if they were nominative, i. e. people could vote for the candidate of a person, or if the elections combined these two options? 41

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Which of the ways to conduct presidential elections in Moldova do you find more appropriate? 43

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In your opinion, the following institutions have at present too much power, too little, or as much as they should? President Parliament Government 45

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Two models of forms of government are being discussed in Moldova at present: a parliamentary or presidential republic. Which one would you choose? 47

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If presidential elections were conducted next Sunday, who do you think should be elected president of the Republic of Moldova? Open end question The percentage was calculated out of the total of those who chose an option. 72% of the respondents have not decided yet. 49

To what extent do you think your safety is ensured, in terms of. . . Economic safety Food safety Health safety Ecologic safety Personal safety State security Political security 50

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The necessity of the Republic of Moldova to integrate into either the C. I. S. or the European Union is much discussed about lately. Which, in your opinion, should be a priority for our country? 52

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When talking about Moldova’s integration into the European Union, in which areas, do you think, it should mostly integrate into? Multiple response 54

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Which are, in your opinion, the most important objectives for Moldova to carry out at present? Multiple response 56

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Metodologia de cercetare • • Eşantionul este proiectat ca unul aleator stratificat multistadial. Straturile au fost alcătuite în funcţie de două criterii: – – • • Volumele celor 36 straturi obţinute au fost calculate proporţional cu volumele populaţiei communicate de Departamentul de statistică al Republicii Moldova Stadii de randomizare: – – – • • 12 unităţi administrativ-teritoriale; 3 tipuri de localităţi: • municipii • oraşe • comune rurale I. Localitatea: în cadrul fiecărui strat, s-a alocat un număr de localităţi care să satisfacă principiul maximului de 20 interviuri/localitate (cu excepţia municipiilor Chişinău, Bălţi, Bender). În cadrul fiecărui strat, localitătile selectate au fost stabilite prin alocare de numere aleatoare generate de calculator. II. Familia: În fiecare localitate, s-a stabilit un număr de puncte de eşantionare, astfel încât maximul de interviuri efectuat într-un puct de eşantionare să fie de 8. Familiile în care s-au efectuat interviuri au fost selectate prin metoda rutei aleatoare, cu un pas statistic. III. Persoana: În cazurile în care în familiile selectate există mai multe persoane adulte, persoana intervievată s-a stabilit prin metoda celei mai apropiate zile de naştere. Interviurile au fost realizate la domiciliul respondenţilor, de către operatorii Fundaţiei Independente de Sondaje Socio-Moldova. Volumul total al eşantionului a fost de 1096 persoane, eroarea maximă de eşantionare fiind de ± 3% 58