28.04.2020
Socio-political attitudes among residents of Rivne
- The results of the survey conducted by Rating Group during the fieldwork dates of March 13–21, 2020, among residents of Rivne demonstrated that 32% of respondents assess the direction of affairs in the city as right, while 44% assess it as wrong. The direction of development in Ukraine is assessed more negatively: 27% consider it right and 51% wrong. In dynamics, compared to the post-election period, pessimistic sentiments regarding the development of both the country and the city have intensified. Optimism prevails among younger and more affluent residents. Regarding the development of the country, voters of the Servant of the People party assess it relatively better, while voters of European Solidarity and the Opposition Platform – For Life assess it the worst. Regarding the state of local affairs, optimists are relatively more common among voters of the Servant of the People and European Solidarity parties, while pessimists are more common among supporters of Svoboda, Batkivshchyna, and the Opposition Platform – For Life parties.
- Almost 40% of respondents are satisfied with the work of the Mayor of Rivne, while 48% are dissatisfied; satisfaction with the city council stands at 36%, while dissatisfaction reaches 44%. The work of public transport received the best assessments: 62% are satisfied and 30% dissatisfied. Almost half of respondents are satisfied with educational institutions, while 27% are dissatisfied. Satisfaction with municipal services stands at 41%, dissatisfaction at 51%. Medical institutions are positively assessed by 36% and negatively by 52%.
- Sixty-six percent reported a definite readiness to participate in possible elections to the Verkhovna Rada. The leader of electoral preferences is the Servant of the People party, which would be supported by 36.1% of those who have decided and intend to vote. European Solidarity would receive 14.7%, the Opposition Platform – For Life 8.2%, Strength and Honor 6.5%, Svoboda 6.0%, Batkivshchyna 5.8%, and Holos 4.5%. The ratings of other parties are below 4%. At the same time, almost one quarter of respondents remain undecided.
- Among respondents, there is a high demand for a mayoral candidate with significant experience in municipal governance. Eighty percent would like the mayor to be more of a manager than a politician. Voters are more likely to prefer a candidate who is a strong personality, regardless of party affiliation. Party branding is clearly important only for every fifth voter.
- At this stage, 44% would rather vote for a candidate who supports the course of President Zelenskyy, while 24% would vote for an opposition candidate. The latter are most concentrated among supporters of European Solidarity and Svoboda.
- City residents believe that the priority tasks for the authorities should primarily concern medical institutions (44%) and the quality of housing and communal services (35%). Another 27% consider job creation and road quality important, while 20–22% point to educational institutions and the fight against corruption. Fourteen to seventeen percent identify social protection of low-income groups, waste collection and disposal, the quality of public transport, and attracting investment to the city as priorities.
- Respondents consider the military conflict in the East to be the most important problem for the country. At the same time, in the ranking of personal problems for city residents, the most important issue is low income, followed by the military conflict and rising utility tariffs.
- The biggest problem of the city, according to residents, is the cost of utility services (52%). About 27% identified poor road conditions, corruption in government, alcoholism, and drug addiction as problems, 23% pointed to waste collection, and about 15–17% chose stray animals on the streets and the low professional level of medical staff. Overall, socio-economic problems such as low wages and pensions and rising tariffs are felt more acutely by older and less affluent residents.
- Fifty-four percent consider the coronavirus to be a real threat personally to themselves and their families, while 39% believe it does not threaten them. Fear of the virus is more prevalent among women and older respondents, and somewhat more often among those who have young children.
Methodology
- Audience: residents of Rivne aged 18 and older. The sample is representative in terms of age and gender.
- Total sample: 800 respondents.
- Method of the survey: personal formalized interview (face-to-face).
- The margin of error does not exceed 3.5%.
- Fieldwork dates: 13-21 March, 2020.
- Poll commissioned by the Information Agency “Western Argument”
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