More than half of the Armenian population trusts the government - survey results

The results of a new study by the Centre for Public Surveys of the International Republican Institute show that 72 percent of respondents trust the government, while 22 percent consider bad governance to be the biggest failure of the current government.

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In numbers

The survey showed: the majority of the population is optimistic about the future of Armenia, despite certain concerns about the quick pace of development of the economy.

72% of respondents expressed confidence in the Prime Minister.

59% of respondents believe that the government is doing enough  to combat corruption.

60% of respondents believe that the country is on the right path in general. And although this is quite a high figure, in comparison to October 2018, it is down 12 points.

More than 60% of respondents want the government to carry out economic and political reforms not gradually, but as quickly as possible.

“The good will and attitude expressed by the Armenian people give the government an unprecedented opportunity to carry out fundamental reforms and improve the economic well-being of the people … Implementing government reforms is crucial for maintaining public support and implementing the government’s reform programme,” said the Director of the Eurasian Region of the International Republican Institute Stephen Nix.

What the people are unhappy about

22% of those surveyed said their biggest grievance against the government is poor governance.

Over the past six months, the percentage of people who believe that they can influence decisions taken in the country has decreased from 72% to 53%.

Respondents said that in the next six months, the government, first of all, should solve the following problems:

• job creation (30%),

• solving social and economic problems (18%)

• salary increase (14%),

• increase of pensions (12%).

How was the poll conducted

The International Republican Institute is a non-profit organization. Its goal is “to assist individual countries in building democracy”.

The chairman of the board of directors of this organization is Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan.

Data collection in Armenia was carried out by the Armenian Sociological Association across the country from May 6 to May 31, 2019 through one-on-one surveys in the homes of those interviewed.

1200 permanent residents of Armenia aged 18 and over participated in the study.

The survey was funded by the United States Agency for International Development.