POLLS SHOW DIP IN LUKASHENKO'S SUPPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MINSK 000846 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR BO SUBJECT: POLLS SHOW DIP IN LUKASHENKO'S SUPPORT REF: A. MINSK 768 ¶B. MINSK 458 Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) According to independent nationwide polling data, public support for Aleksandr Lukashenko continues to slip (ref A),while support for the opposition holds steady. Public opinion on the economy shows little change over the course of 2007. While opposition to government cuts in social benefits exists, we are clearly not at a point where that sentiment will be sufficient to drive Belarusians to protest. End summary. Luksashenko's Rating Continues to Slide -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Minsk's Independent Institute for Social, Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS) conducted three nationwide public opinion polls in January, May, and September 2007. Each survey had roughly 1500 respondents and a margin of error of three percentage points. While many of the indices remained rather static, the popularity of Aleksandr Lukashenko and general opinion on the state of affairs in Belarus slipped. ¶3. (SBU) When asked, "If elections for President of Belarus were held tomorrow, for whom would you vote?" Aleksandr Lukashenko's rating fell six per cent, while support for Aleksandr Milinkevich remained steady. January '07 May '07 September '07 ¶A. Lukashenko 50.9 48.0 44.9 ¶A. Milinkevich 11.4 12.2 12.3 ¶A. Kozulin 4.2 4.6 3.2 ¶S. Gaydukevich 1.2 1.2 1.3 ¶A. Lebedko