Tuesday, July 9 2019 11:59

ArmInfo.A new nationwide poll of Armenia by the International Republican Institute's (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research shows high public confidence in  government and optimism about the country's future, even as Armenians  remain concerned about economic issues.

Poll results indicate a strong popular mandate for the new government  to press on with reforms. More than 60 percent of respondents want  the government to undertake both political and economic reforms  quickly rather than gradually.

"The goodwill expressed by the Armenian people presents the Armenian  government with an unprecedented opportunity to undertake fundamental  reforms that strengthen the country's democracy and improve the  economic well-being of its people," said Stephen Nix, IRI Regional  Director for Eurasia. "The government's speedy delivery on reforms  will be key to maintaining its strong public support and the momentum  to press on with its agenda," Nix added. 

Seventy-two percent of respondents expressed favorable attitudes  toward the performance of the Office of the Prime Minister, and 60  percent of respondents think the country is heading in the right  direction. Although this figure represents a 12-point reduction from  October of last year, it remains a significant expression of  continued confidence in the new government. This attitude may also be  reflected in high levels of optimism regarding the government's  handling of reforms, as 59 percent of respondents believe that the  government is making enough effort to fight corruption.

Despite these demonstrations of optimism, Armenians remain concerned  about a number of issues facing the country. When asked about the  government's greatest failure, respondents most often cited bad  management (22 percent). The percentage of people who believe they  can influence decisions made in Armenia has declined from 72 percent  to 53 percent during the past six months.

In keeping with previous IRI surveys, jobs (30 percent),  socioeconomic problems (18 percent), wages (14 percent) and pensions  (12 percent) topped the list of priority issues the government must  address within the next six months. Although 42 percent think that  the economy as a whole has improved over the last six months, just 24  percent cite improvements in the economic situation of their own  households over the same time period.  

The survey was conducted on behalf of IRI by Dr. Rasa Alisauskiene of  the Baltic Surveys/The Gallup Organization, with the fieldwork  carried out by the Armenian Sociological Association. Data was  collected throughout Armenia between May 6 and May 31, 2019 through  face-to-face interviews in respondents' homes. The sample consisted  of 1,200 permanent residents of Armenia aged 18 or older and eligible  to vote. It is representative of the general population by age,  gender and region. The margin of error does not exceed plus or minus  2.5 percent for the full sample. This survey was funded by the U.S.  Agency for International Development.