IFAK poll: Over half of Ukrainians think Yanukovych will improve economic situation in country

Kiev. April 19. Interfax-Ukraine - Over half of Ukrainians think that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych will be able to improve the economic situation in the country, according to a survey conducted by IFAK Ukraine international research agency.

IFAK Ukraine Director General Serhiy Hovorukha presented the results of the survey at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Monday.

IFAK conducted the survey on March 12-24 in the cities with a population of over 50,000 aged between 18 and 60. The survey's margin of error is 2.5%.

According to the survey, 51% of respondents generally agreed that Yanukovych as president would improve the economic situation in Ukraine, 26% neither agreed nor disagreed, 20% generally disagreed, and 3% failed to answer.

Some 48% of those surveyed said that Yanukovych would manage to stabilize the political situation in Ukraine, 28% neither agreed nor disagreed with this, 20% generally disagreed, and 4% were undecided.

Some 42% of Ukrainians believe that the president will be able to improve the lives of ordinary people, 26% neither agreed nor disagreed with this, 27% generally disagreed, and 5% could not answer.

Some 73% think that Yanukovych will manage to improve relations between Ukraine and Russia, 18% neither agreed nor disagreed with this, 8% disagreed, and 1% were undecided.

Some 45% of respondents expect their financial situation to improve in 2010, 42% said that it would remain unchanged, 8% said it would worsen, and 5% failed to answer.

Some 63% of respondents believe that Yanukovych should take, first and foremost, measures to tackle the crisis, 45% to step up the fight against corruption, 35% to improve relations with Russia, 27% to return illegally privatized enterprises to the state, 23% to strengthen the fight against crime, 18% to reduce taxes for small and medium-sized businesses, 13% to unite eastern and western regions in Ukraine, 7% to take real steps towards European integration (to obtain membership of in the EU and NATO), 7% said that Yanukovych should dissolve parliament and hold early elections, 2% were undecided.

IFAK is an independent, full-service market research institute that was founded in Germany in 1958. The Ukrainian office of the agency has operated as an associate partner since January 2007.