LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

• ‍According to a survey conducted by the Rating Sociological Group, residents of Ivano-Frankivsk region believe that executive authorities have significantly more power than local self-government. Only 17% think that local self-government has more authority to solve socio-economic problems in the region, while 28% believe this role belongs to the central executive authorities and 31% to the local executive authorities. Another 6% believe that all branches of government have equal powers, and 19% either could not answer or did not understand the question.
• At the same time, a majority of respondents (60%) believe that local self-government should have more authority to resolve socio-economic problems in the region. Only 4% think more powers should belong to the central government and 20% to local executive authorities. Support for greater powers of the local executive branch is highest in the regional capital.
• Trust in local self-government bodies is significantly higher (40%) than trust in central executive authorities (2%) and local executive authorities (9%). Another 13% trust all branches equally, while 19% do not trust any authority — a figure that is again highest in the regional center.
• Satisfaction with government declines as the level of authority increases. Residents are most satisfied with village and town councils (60%), followed by district councils (44%), the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council (42%) and the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk (40%). The lowest levels of satisfaction are recorded for the Regional Council (32%) and the Regional State Administration (30%).
  However, in terms of the balance between positive and negative assessments, the mayor and the city council of Ivano-Frankivsk have the worst balance: 52% and 46% respectively are dissatisfied with their work. Dissatisfaction with the Regional Council and Regional Administration is lower, at 40% and 42% respectively. Pensioners express the highest levels of satisfaction with all levels of local government.
• The main problems facing local self-government in Ivano-Frankivsk region are perceived to be:
  • lack of independence in decision-making (30%)
  • weak accountability of local officials to the community (27%)
  • insufficient authority over the distribution of locally collected funds (27%)
  • weak legislative framework (25%)
  • insufficient control over budget distribution (23%)
  • interference by executive authorities (20%)
  • limited ability of citizens to be elected (17%)
  • poor staffing capacity (16%)
  • duplication of functions between executive bodies and self-government (13%)
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• In the regional capital, staffing problems and weak accountability are seen as the most acute, while in rural areas the biggest problems are limited control over finances and interference from executive authorities. Men, middle-aged people and those with higher education are more aware of these problems.
• Seventy-four percent of residents support the idea of electing the head of the Regional State Administration, while only 13% oppose it. Support is highest in the regional capital.

‍PRIORITIES OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES

• ‍Residents believe the main priorities of local government should be road repairs (52%), reducing unemployment (51%), controlling price growth (44%), fighting corruption and restoring agriculture (38%), supporting vulnerable groups (33%), industrial recovery (31%), healthcare (27%), youth support (27%) and controlling utility tariffs (26%).
• Less frequently mentioned priorities include protection of culture and language (21%), combating alcoholism and drug addiction (21%), attracting investment (20%), solving landfill problems (19%), supporting SMEs (17%), fighting crime (16%), protecting democracy (16%) and environmental protection (13%). Fewer than 10% consider housing, education, transport, government transparency or tourism as top priorities.
• Perceptions vary by location. In Ivano-Frankivsk city, corruption, industrial recovery, utility tariffs, crime, education, SMEs and tourism are more pressing. In other towns unemployment, inflation, healthcare and the environment dominate. In villages, agriculture and social support are most important.
• Only 6–10% of respondents are satisfied with job creation, agriculture, industry, roads and SME development. Fewer than 15% are satisfied with corruption control, social assistance or utility services. About 20% are satisfied with healthcare and government openness, while the highest satisfaction is with tourism (36%) and education (42%).
• An index of satisfaction shows that residents are:
  • mostly satisfied with education and tourism
  • moderately satisfied with government openness
  • dissatisfied with healthcare, SMEs, social protection, corruption control and utilities
  • very dissatisfied with job creation, industry, agriculture and road quality
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CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

• ‍Over 90% believe they can exercise their voting rights. Freedom of speech is considered accessible by 86%, freedom of assembly by 83%, freedom of association by 81%, local referenda by 76% and the right to be elected by 72%. City residents have more opportunities to exercise rights than rural residents, except for being elected. Higher education and older age increase perceived rights awareness.

‍DISCRIMINATION

• ‍Discrimination is generally perceived as low. The highest levels are reported for political views (15%) and gender (14%), followed by religion (10%), language (9%), nationality (8%) and race (7%). Discrimination is felt more in the regional capital and among young and highly educated people.

‍PROTEST MOOD

• ‍Fifty percent of residents are ready to participate in protests, while 37% are not. Readiness is similar in cities and villages and highest among supporters of UDAR, Svoboda, Batkivshchyna, Front for Change and Our Ukraine. Men, middle-aged, educated and economically active citizens are most protest-oriented.

‍PERSONAL TRUST RATINGS

• ‍The most trusted regional leaders are:
  • Mykhailo Vyshyvaniuk, Head of the Regional Administration (34%)
  • Oleksandr Sych, Head of the Regional Council (33%)
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• Other trusted figures include Ihor Nasalyk (19%), Mykhailo Paliychuk (15%), Zinovii Shkutiak (14%) and Roman Tkach (14%).

‍ELECTORAL MOOD

• If parliamentary elections were held in July 2011, Batkivshchyna would win in the region overall, while Svoboda would win in Ivano-Frankivsk city.
• ‍Regional parliamentary support (among decided voters):
  Batkivshchyna 30.8%, Svoboda 20.9%, Front for Change 16%, Our Ukraine 3.5%, UDAR 3%, Party of Regions 3%, Civic Position 2.1%, others below 2%.
• ‍Presidential support in the region:
  Yulia Tymoshenko 30%, Arseniy Yatseniuk 23.4%, Oleh Tyahnybok 14.5%, Vitaliy Klitschko 7.2%, Viktor Yushchenko 3.3%, Viktor Yanukovych 3.1%.
• ‍Ivano-Frankivsk city parliamentary vote:
  Svoboda 26.5%, Batkivshchyna 21.8%, Front for Change 17.7%.
• Svoboda remains dominant in the city, while Tyahnybok’s personal rating is lower than his party’s. Yatseniuk and Tymoshenko have significantly improved their positions. Klitschko is rapidly gaining trust, while Party of Regions and Our Ukraine have declined sharply.