68% of residents of Ternopil region are convinced that attempts by certain political forces to disrupt the local elections are caused by fear of losing them

Press

03.03.2009

68% of residents of Ternopil region are convinced that attempts by certain political forces to disrupt the local elections are caused by fear of losing them

At the end of February, 78% of residents of Ternopil region believed that the early elections to the regional council would take place on time, on 15 March 2009. Only 15% did not believe that the early elections to the regional council would be held on 15 March. 68% of respondents expressed their readiness to take part in these elections. 68% of residents of Ternopil region are convinced that attempts by certain political forces to disrupt the local elections are caused by fear of losing them. Residents of Ternopil region did not believe that attempts by certain political forces to disrupt the local elections were connected with the desire to save state budget funds during the crisis – only 19% believed this.
Support for the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc in the elections to the Ternopil Regional Council has decreased by one third since December 2008 and by more than half compared to the 2006 elections. The All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” is in the lead. Next come the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and “Our Ukraine,” whose support weakened the most in the second half of 2008.
During the election campaign, the fastest growth in voter support was demonstrated by the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” (from 13.2% in December to 26.4%) and by “Yedynyi Tsentr” (from 2.5% to 6.4%). As for the latter, it is worth noting that the relatively high level of trust in the list leader, the head of the regional state administration Y. Chyzhmar (16%), allowed Yedynyi Tsentr to count on higher electoral dividends from the campaign.
The Lytvyn Bloc closes the group of parties expected to pass the electoral threshold. The Ukrainian People’s Party, “Pora,” and the Party of Regions also had chances to compete for representation in the regional council, as their ratings were close to the electoral threshold.
The main reason for the growth of support for the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda” is disappointment in the traditional leaders of electoral preferences (the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and “Our Ukraine”). In particular, over just the last month, Yulia Tymoshenko’s personal rating (in the presidential elections) decreased from 25% to 17%. The downward trajectory of Yulia Tymoshenko’s rating as a result of the crisis repeats the dynamics of support for the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. At the same time, respondents who in December–January did not support any political force intended in February to vote mainly for the All-Ukrainian Union “Svoboda.”

Methodology

The survey was conducted by Rating Group.