Page 17 - RusRPTDec18

“The biggest drop in approval over the past six months was in both chambers of the Federal Assembly. Obviously, this is a direct result of changes in the pension system,” VTsIOM sociologist Mikhail Mamonov said.
The Russian military led in the approval rating for state institutions, with 85.5 percent of VTsIOM’s respondents backing it, followed by 69.5 percent for the Russian Orthodox Church. Law enforcement agencies and the media followed with 55 percent approval.
Labor unions and the Russian opposition found themselves on the other end of the spectrum, with fewer than one-third of respondents saying they approve of their activities.
The popularity of Russian President Vladimir Putin took a hit following the approval of hikes to retirement ages this summer, as his approval rating dropped from this year’s high of 82% set in May to 66% in September and November, according to independent pollster the Levada Center’s most recent survey.
Putin’s popularity was clearly affected by the changes in retirement ages which were 60 years for men and 55 for women, set in the USSR back in the 1930's when average life expectancy was 40 years. Retirement ages have recently been increased to 65 for men and 60 for women.
PM Dmitry Medvedev’s disapproval rating went up 1 point to 65% but approval stayed at the same low 34%.
The biggest changes came with the approval ratings of the regional governors which improved to 63% in November from 58% in October and disapproval fell heavily from 40 to 35 largely driven by local election campaigning in the autumn.
The population remain divided over which direction the country is going in with 47% saying it is going in the right direction and 42% saying in the wrong direction, slight more pessimistic than in October.
17 RUSSIA Country Report December 2018 www.intellinews.com