Reaction of the residents of Vladikavkaz to a question “Did you participate in State Duma elections in December 2007 and if yes, which party did you vote for?” showed that almost half of those polled (48%) voted for “United Russia”, which proved to be much more popular than any other Russian political party.
As in all other North Caucasus republics, political apathy and disinterest in the election process appeared to be the most serious opponent of the pro-government party in Vladikavkaz. Number of those respondents who declared that they ignored parliamentary elections and refrained from voting reached 39%. All other political parties in Vladikavkaz did not manage to reach 10% of the votes. Thus, “Just Russia” received 6%, KPRF – 5% and LDPR – just 2%. Unlike other North Caucasus republics, nobody of those polled in Vladikavkaz reported voting for democratic oppositional parties represented by “YABLOKO” and SPS.
Responding to a question about their participation in the presidential elections, more than half of those polled (53%) reported that they voted for Dmitry Medvedev. As in case with parliamentary elections, political apathy and disinterest in the elections turned out to be the most serious opponent of the main pro-Kremlin presidential candidate. Thus, 41% declared that they did not take part in the elections. KPRF leader G. Zyuganov and head of LDPR V. Zhirinovsky received only 5% and 1% of the votes respectively.
It appears that most of the politically active part of the respondents in Vladikavkaz voted for Medvedev while leaders of KPRF and LDPR once again proved to be rather marginal political figures, who played their traditional role of necessary political decoration legitimizing the presidential elections in Russia by imitating political struggle for the Russian presidency.
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Responding to a question about possible changes in security sphere in the North Osetia in the coming year, majority of those polled (51%) stated that in their opinion situation is going to remain unchanged. At the same time, number of cautious optimists proved to be somewhat higher than the number of pessimists. Thus, 11% and 16% respectively noticed that security situation is going to improve or “rather improve” while only 2% and 10% respectively said that situation would deteriorate or “rather deteriorate”. 10% of the respondents found it hard to provide answer to that question.
Respondents’ expectations about possible developments in social and economic situation in the North Osetia were also more optimistic. Thus, 11% and 29% of respondents respectively expect that social and economic situation in their republic is going to improve or “rather improve” while only 1% and 13% respectively think that social and economic conditions would deteriorate or “rather deteriorate”. 13% of those polled could not answer this question.
Vladikavkaz residents demonstrated even higher level of optimism while answering similar questions about security, social and economic developments in Russia. Thus, 22% of those polled expect improvements in security situation in Russia while 33% think that security situation is going to “rather improve”. 27% are sure that sitution in this field will remain unchanged. Only 2% and 7% respectively said that security conditions in Russia are going to deteriorate or “rather deteriorate”. 9% could not provide answer to that question.
21% of those polled expect further improvements in social and economic situation in Russia. More than one-third of respondents (35%) tend to believe that economic situation in the country would “rather improve”. Number of pessimists expecting deterioration of social and economic conditions in Russia was much lower than the number of optimists. Thus, only 1% think that situation in that sphere is going to deteriorate and 5% - “rather deteriorate”. 29% don’t expect any major changes in that sphere. 9% of respondents reported difficulties in answering this question.
Overall, population of Vladikavkaz demonstarted certain level of social optimism concerning their expectations about possible developments in security and social and economic sphere both in their own republic and generally in Russia.