site.btaSurvey Finds Positive Response to Newly Elected President's First Steps

Survey Finds Positive Response to Newly Elected President's First Steps

Sofia, February 14 (BTA) - The first steps taken by newly elected Bulgarian President Rumen Radev enjoy public support, and caretaker Prime Minister Ognyan Gerdjikov is starting off with a substantial credit of confidence, the Trend Research Centre found in a survey conducted among 1,002 adult Bulgarian citizens between February 2 and 9 and commissioned by the "24 Chassa" daily.

As many as 62 per cent trust Radev's first steps, while just 13 per cent think otherwise. Only the GERB supporters are divided, but even among them one in two takes a positive view of the new head of State's performance, while one on four takes a negative view. The Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) supporters, however, are practically unanimous: none of them is disappointed for the time being.

The BSP's backing for Radev's bid for the presidency has certain implications, the analysts note. A substantial 42 per cent of those polled believe that the President is dependent on BSP, while slightly over 25 per cent do not think so. Here again, party affiliations matter, with the GERB faithful being more convinced that Radev is doing the Socialist Party's bidding.

At the start of its term in office, the caretaker Cabinet can count on the support of 37 per cent of respondents, with just 6 per cent disapproving. Probably because the government took over quite recently, 44 per cent are undecided, Trend comments. In the opinion of nearly half of the Bulgarian citizens, the Cabinet will cope with its tasks.

Caretaker Prime Minister Gerdjikov enjoys an ever greater public confidence than his Cabinet: 46 per cent approve of him, and 8 per cent disapprove.

Sixty-seven per cent of those polled said they cast ballots in the November 6, 2016 national referendum. Of these, 80 per cent voted in favour of electing MPs by an absolute majority in a two-round majoritarian system. The pollsters' findings almost entirely overlap with the final results of the referendum.

Asked whether they would vote the same way if a referendum was held on the same question yet again, 82 per cent of respondents said yet and just 10 per cent said no.

Approached about their preferred electoral system, 37 per cent of those polled opted for a two-round majoritarian system with absolute majority, slightly under 25 per cent would like a mixed system, and just 11 per cent want the present proportional representation system to be kept.