Opinion of Government Drops, Distrust in Society Increases

Opinion of Government Drops, Distrust in Society Increases

In 2005, the number of people dissatisfied with government is double what it was the previous year. Gorbi, Georgian Public Opinion and Marketing Research Centre, has published the results of public opinion polls reflecting public sentiment as of March 2005, on the subjects of: development in Georgia since the revolution, possible (probably) ratings of the political parties, and the president. Also, with the help of Gorbi polls, a full list of political figures has been compiled, under the name of the Best Seven of Gorbi. People interviewed for the polls believe that these are the political figures that can achieve substantial success in the fight against corruption and to implement real political and economical reforms. The polls suggest that the president’s rating has plummeted considerably, and that in the last 6 months he has lost nearly 25% of his supporters.

Gorbi, Georgian Public Opinion and Marketing Research Centre, has published the results of a public opinion survey, which reflects the public attitude as of March 2005 regarding the developments in the country. The Gorbi Centre conducted its research across all of Georgia, except for conflict regions, and the results reflect the overall attitude of the society at the moment of interview.

About the direction of Georgia’s development, 31% of the surveyed believe that development is going the right direction, but 30% give the development of Georgia a negative assessment. According to Gorbi data, the number of people satisfied with the overall development of the country has reduced by half in the past year. On comparing the quality of life in pre- and post-revolution Georgia, 34% of those surveyed say that the Shevardnadze period was better, while 37% consider that life in the post-revolution Georgia is better.

According to the Gorbi survey results, most people believe that in the case of new Parliamentary elections, the government would no longer face the threat of one-party rule. Compared to the last year, the number of active voters that do not have a ‘favorite’ political party has risen by 20%, and 48% of the voters cannot name the party that they would vote for in the case of new elections. Despite the fact that the president has no real opponent in the presidential elections, his rating is plummeting and he has already lost 25% of his supporters during the past 6 months.

As for the Great Seven revealed by Gorbi, those people are on the list that, according to the public opinion, can ensure the well-being of the country by fighting with corruption and implementing significant reforms. The Great Seven is headed by Mikheil Saakashvili with his 38%, followed by Nino Burjanadze, who enjoys 30% of the population’s trust and the belief that she will be able to cope with the problems that the country has. In the third place comes Irakli Okruashvili with 24%, followed by Koba Davitashvili with 11%. Davit Gamkrelidze and Shalva Natelashvili come next, with 10% each and the seventh place is occupied by George Baramidze, with 9%.

The Gorbi polls clearly indicate that the euphoria of revolution has diminished within society, and its attitude toward the government has dramatically changed, especially lately. Experts believe that the decrease in the government’s popularity was not unexpected because it has carried out several painful reforms and has made plenty of management mistakes. Political scientist Ramaz Klimiashvili believes that the majority of people that are now in the government are a group of revolutionaries, the goal of which was to overthrow Shevardnadze’s regime, and that this movement is now left without a function.

Nino Bestavashvili