• According to a survey conducted by the Rating Sociological Group in March 2011, 16% of respondents consider a presidential system to be the optimal form of government for Ukraine, 30% support a presidential–parliamentary system, 21% a parliamentary–presidential system, 4% a parliamentary system, 4% a dictatorship, while 25% were unable to decide.

Trends

• Support for a pro-presidential form of government (the combined share of those supporting presidential and presidential–parliamentary systems) has been gradually declining since its peak in April 2010. In October 2009, 58% supported a pro-presidential system; in April 2010 this rose to 61%, but fell to 50% in September 2010 and to 46% by March 2011.
• These trends closely mirror changes in trust in Viktor Yanukovych: in October 2009, 41% fully or somewhat trusted him; in April 2010 this increased to 55%, but declined to 39% in September 2010 and to 28% in March 2011.
• Growth in support for a pro-parliamentary system (the combined share supporting parliamentary–presidential and parliamentary systems) has also slowed. In October 2009, 22% supported such a system; in April 2010 – 20%; in September 2010 – 28%; and in March 2011 – 25%.
• At the same time, the share of respondents who are unable to determine which system of government is optimal has been steadily increasing: from 15% in October 2009, to 16% in April 2010, 18% in September 2010, and 25% in March 2011.
• Support for dictatorship as an optimal form of government has remained stable at around 4%.
• The strongest supporters of strengthening presidential power are voters of the Party of Regions and Strong Ukraine, while the strongest supporters of strengthening parliamentary powers are voters of Svoboda, Batkivshchyna, and Civic Position.
• The most noticeable growth in support for strengthening parliament was recorded only in Eastern Ukraine. No region showed growth in support for strengthening presidential power. The number of undecided respondents increased in Donbas, the South, the Center, the North, and the West.