Opposition ratings are growing in Russia - so that the authorities do not “turn bronze”
The rating of the opposition as a political institution increased in Russia during 2016 from 31 to 35%. Director of the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM) Valery Fedorov stated this at a press conference in Moscow.
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“We did not specify from respondents what kind of opposition. We can talk about both systemic and non-systemic opposition, about opposition from the right, from the left, nationalist, communist, conservative, liberal, whatever. Despite the fact that the support of the authorities is strong, the institution of the opposition finds a certain understanding and positive perception,” Fedorov said.
Three parliamentary parties are considered to be the systemic opposition in Russia: the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party and A Just Russia. According to VTsIOM data, their aggregate rating by the end of the year was about 25%.
According to Fedorov, the perception of the opposition in Russia is different than in Western democracies.
“Russians believe that the opposition is the very pike that is needed to keep the crucian from dozing. We do not perceive the opposition as a certain political force that can, in a certain situation, change power. But this institution has an important function: it should not allow the authorities to become completely bronze,” said the sociologist.
The opposition's approval rating is growing in Russia – to prevent the authorities from becoming "bronzed."