Poll: Belarus’ policy is socially oriented
Employees of the National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Sociology talked to 1,050 respondents by phone, asking how was the year 2022 important for them. Belarusians aged 18 years and older, residing in cities and villages, were questioned. The Director of the Institute of Sociology, Nikolai Myslivets, commented on the results.
“69.4 percent of respondents noted that the year 2022 was successful for them personally; most of them are under 30 years old. Those in an older age group were slightly more sceptical. Despite that, the share of those who saw 2022 as not entirely successful, unsuccessful or rather unsuccessful made 22.2 percent, and 8.4 percent of Belarusians found it difficult to answer. Regarding that point, the proportion of representatives of each age group was about the same, and only elderly respondents sometimes found it somewhat more difficult to answer: 13 percent of those aged 60 years and older could not say for sure whether the year was successful or not. Meanwhile, only 3 percent of young people had difficulties with an answer. Actually, the general situation is quite indicative: most respondents considered last year to be successful. In particular, the figure was relatively high among Minskers: 74.8 percent,” Mr. Myslivets said.
The poll results confirm that the country’s policy is socially oriented, and this produces a positive effect, especially in comparison with several previous years. The plans that are being implemented by the state are refracted not only through Belarusians’ hopes, expectations and assessments, but also through their social practices: work, leisure, the opportunity to get education and monitor their health, spend free time, relax, and so on. “The results of the poll are actually our citizens’ assessments of the current state policy,” Mr. Myslivets added.