Public optimism sparked by 2019 elections is over, poll confirms

About 63% of the Ukrainian public believes the country
is going in the wrong direction, compared to 22% who believe it’s going in the
right direction, according to poll results released on July 2. That’s a
reversal of when parliament convened in September, when 18% believed it was
moving in the wrong direction, and 55% in the right direction. About 50% said
the economic condition of their family has worsened in the last six months, while
64% said the country’s condition has declined. About 37% said economic
conditions will worsen by the year end, while 18% said they will improve. About
53% said the government’s incompetence will be to blame for an economic crisis,
while 32% said it would be the fault of the coronavirus.

About 52% of the public is dissatisfied with the
activity of President Zelensky, compared to 35% who are satisfied, the poll
said. About 55% are dissatisfied with the activity of PM Shmyhal (71% with the
cabinet), compared to 8% who are satisfied with him (8% with the cabinet), the
poll said. About 51% are dissatisfied with the work of Parliamentary Speaker
Dmytro Razumkov (75% with parliament’s work), compared to 21% who are satisfied
(9% with parliament).

The poll was conducted between June 24 and 28 among
2,000 respondents by the Rating Sociological Group.

Zenon Zawada: Political trends are playing out as many experts had expected, with
about the same timing. The exception has been the coronavirus factor and
Zelensky’s resilient public support, which has been declining slower than
expected (but headed downward nonetheless). Meanwhile, Shmyhal and Razumkov are
Zelensky’s fall guys to collect public discontent. However, the overall public
sentiment is appropriate, as we see no improvement in the country’s economic
and political situation in the near- to mid-term.