EcooM poll: absolute majority of Belarusians trust President

The absolute majority of Belarusians trust the President – as confirmed by the Sustainable Development Factors poll conducted by EcooM Analytical Centre in the period from October 1st to October 21st, 2024

Guarantor of peace and security

Respondents were asked to answer the question: to what extent do you trust the President of the Republic of Belarus? Commenting on the results obtained, Director of the EcooM Analytical Centre Sergei Musienko told SB. Belarus Segodnya, “The issue of trust in the Head of State is like trust in parents and the Motherland. The results obtained reflect confidence in the course pursued by the state, its peaceful and consistent policy. Despite the sanctions imposed, there are all products available in Belarusian shops, social issues are being successfully resolved, government representatives are performing their functions — and all this is expressed in trust in the President.”

The expert highlighted an important point, “The figures are encouraging. They were registered before the start of the Marathon of Unity and the spontaneous It Is Necessary! nationwide campaign, and also before the initiative groups to collect signatures were formed. It is very important for sociology to see and know the source material. Moreover, this trust may well grow into figures of direct support for the incumbent President during the election – and become even more vivid.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko is now acting as the President of peace, and – according to political expert Yuri Shevtsov – this stands high in the eyes of society. Commenting on the results of the survey, he said, “The effect of the 2015 Presidential campaign is being repeated. Both then and now, society is shocked by the events taking place in Ukraine. Part of the society fears the prospect of the war spreading from Ukraine to Belarus in one form or another. At present, the Head of State acts as a guarantor that there will be no war in Belarus. People see him as a leader who will try to the last to prevent the republic from being involved in this war. This function of the President turns out to be more important in the eyes of society than any ideological or stylistic shortcomings in his activities. Society sees a guarantor of peace and stability in almost everything that the Head of State does, even when he is chopping firewood. Centring of ordinary people round the President as a defender can be observed among different nations throughout history. Actually, Aleksandr Lukashenko has really managed to consolidate the people and continues to convey a peacekeeping agenda aimed at preserving regional security to the whole world.” 

Head of State is man of his word and deeds

According to a deputy of the House of Representatives, Irina Dovgalo, Belarusians see the dynamics of the country's development over the years of sovereignty. They see that, during his presidency, Aleksandr Lukashenko has never deceived either the Belarusian people or any particular person.

“Probably, this is the secret of the people's love and trust in the President. This is important, since – if a person trusts the Head of State – they trust him as the country’s leader. We often hear how many people (and there are not only Belarusians among them) call Aleksandr Lukashenko Batka [father]. When analysing the policy of the Belarusian leader, he can really be called a Father. After all, he treats each of the Belarusians who live in the country like a father – proving this regularly by personal example and deeds. If the Head of State says that it is necessary to help a socially vulnerable group of citizens, then he never turns away from this path. No matter how hard it was, Belarus has not curtailed any social programme. Taking office, President Aleksandr Lukashenko not only took the country away from the abyss and provided people with enough food. Thanks to his wise and competent policy, Belarus not just fully ensures the country's food security, but it is also one of the world's leading food exporters. Peace, order and tranquillity reign in the country. All this suggests that our President is a man of his word and deeds. That is why the people love him, the population trusts him, Belarusians rely on him,” the MP noted. 

Economic optimism

Respondents were also asked to answer the question: to what extent do you trust the Government? More than 67 percent said they trust, 18.1 percent do not trust, and 14.4 percent of the poll participants found it difficult to answer.

At the same time, most Belarusians believe that the economic situation in the country will be even better in a year: answering the question of how the economic situation in the country will change in a year, more than three quarters of respondents expressed confidence that it will remain the same or improve.

It is already obvious now that, even under the conditions of sanctions, the Belarusian economy is demonstrating steady economic growth, which has allowed for an increase in monetary income. This means the Government does its job efficiently.

PhD in Economics, analyst Georgy Grits expressed confidence in the positive economic dynamics, “I am sure that common sense will reign in the world. We already see the steps that the US President-elect Donald Trump took even before the inauguration in terms of resolving the conflict in Ukraine. The situation can no longer remain like that, as there is a violation of all international norms and principles of free trade. Therefore, I believe that the situation in the world and in our country will improve, and this trend will be guided by an increase in the subjectivity of the Republic of Belarus in such international organisations as BRICS, SCO, EAEU, and the Union State."

"The troubled times, when everyone is on their own, are coming to an end, and this will be a contrast to the crazy sanctions policy on the part of the G7 countries and the collective West. Most of the states that are shaping the economic agenda and the dynamics of global economic growth today understand that the principles of adherence to international law, multipolarity – which are adhered to by both the Republic of Belarus and is President – are a priority," the expert added.