Page 34 - RusRPTApr20

Russian government is to set up a RUB300bn ($4bn) anti-crisis fund to deal with the possible effects of the Coronavirus pandemic, Vedomosti daily reported on March 15 citing unnamed federal officials. Reportedly, the fund would compensate missing income to quarantined household, support to the unemployed, and losses/tax breaks of businesses most affected by the virus, including the SMEs. As reported by bne IntelliNews, the pandemic is seen limiting Russian growth to 0.8%, could clip the wings of new government's pro-growth spending agenda, and in combination with the unfolding oil price war carries macro risks for the country. BCS Global Markets chief economist Vladimir Tikhomirov believes that the proposed package would not be able to cover all the various losses inflicted by the virus. Other analysts surveyed by the daily believe that support measures indicated in the first unofficial reports are too vaguely defined, but still remain affordable for the federal budget.
2.14 Polls & Sociology
The amendment to the Constitution on the zeroing of presidential terms for Russian President Vladimir Putin has split society, according to the data of the Levada Center. The rule that allows Vladimir Putin to be elected for two more terms after 2024 is approved by 48% of respondents, and 47% disapprove.
At the same time, 46% of respondents would like to see Putin as president and after 2024 (against 54% in July 2019), and 40% would not want to.
A quarter (23%) of Russians adopted the amendment to nullify the deadlines did not cause any special feelings, 20% were outraged, 19% hopeful. In general, 31% of respondents expressed positive emotions (satisfaction and hope), 36% expressed negative emotions (perplexity and indignation).
The state owned pollster, the Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM) has only asked if respondents considered it important, and 61% then answered in the affirmative.
Levada Center found the level of approval of Putin’s presidency from February to March fell from 69 to 63%, and trust in him as a politician, according to VTsIOM, over the past week decreased from 71.5% to 68.4% .
For the most part, young, educated people and Muscovites are against zeroing the terms and keeping Putin in power, and the poor periphery is in favour says Levada Center.
Russian don't believe the official reported coronavirus infection numbers. Fifty-nine percent of Russian respondents said they don’t believe the officially reported numbers, while 38% said they trust the authorities’ information. The number of Russians who are afraid of contracting the infection has significantly increased since February, Levada said. Forty-four percent of Russians now worry that they’ll catch the virus compared to 30% of respondents last month.
34 RUSSIA Country Report April 2020 www.intellinews.com