CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP AND STRUGGLE AGAINST CORRUPTION ARE KEY CONDITIONS FOR COUNTRY'S DEVELOPMENT - BAROMETER

To improve the socio-economic situation in the republic, it is first necessary to remove the incumbent country leadership and to combat corruption, as per the Public Opinion Barometer poll findings presented in Chisinau on Tuesday.

The pollsters have established that struggle against corruption is the first priority for 63.1% respondents, and change of leadership - for 58.5%. Among other priorities for improving the general situation in the country its citizens named the development of industrial enterprises (32.6%), crime prevention (22.7%), and support for small and medium enterprises (19.9%).

Among the population's greatest concerns the interviewed citizens mentioned high prices (53.8%), their children's future (53.4%), poverty (41.2%), unemployment (34.6%), and corruption (32.3%).

Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72.4%) are sure that the country is developing in a wrong direction, and only 17.4% think - in a right direction.

The interviewed people showed their highest discontent with low salaries (87.2%) and low pensions (86.7%), with how the authorities struggle against corruption (85.3%), with mediocre living standards (85%), and shortage of jobs (81.8%). And the respondents were on the whole positive about the measures the government is taking in the spheres of education (28.9%), culture (28.7%), public health (22.5%) and agriculture (15.5%).

The researchers found out that in the country reputed to be the poorest one in Europe there live people who say they are "very happy" about the economic situation in the republic, though their proportion makes merely 0.2%. Those who are ""substantially glad" constitute 6.6%, "partly satisfied" - 29%, "not very glad" - 35.5%, and "categorically discontented" - 25.7%.

According to the presented data, 30.8% people stated that they have no money enough even for buying the most necessary things, 42.2% -- that they can afford only the most necessary, basic products. 18.7% citizens said they can afford quite a decent living, but without luxuries, 3.5% can occasionally buy even expensive things, and only 2.1% stated they can live without restrictions.

The research has found out that Moldova is a country where few people are well-off enough for investing, namely only 1.1% respondents said they are going to invest their capitals. 0.8% respondents have money, but don't know how to invest it wisely. 1.7% said they have some savings but are afraid of investing, and 9.9% respondents prefer to keep savings at hand in case of a crisis or another emergency.

A majority of citizens (70%) have no capitals enough for investing, and another 7.1% said they have no free money at the moment because they have already invested it. Only 0.5% Moldovans believe that compared with the previous year the economic situation in the republic has "substantially improved", 19.9% -- that the situation has "improved", 44.9% -- "remained at the last year's level", 19.8% -- "worsened", and 9.6% said the situation has "considerably worsened.

In the opinion of 0.5% respondents, in a year the general situation in Moldova will become considerably better, 16.9% -- better, 38.5% believe it will not change, 17.4% -- will worsen, and 9.1% presume the situation will considerably deteriorate.

The poll was carried out by the CBS-AXA Center for Sociological Researches and Marketing by request of the Institute of Public Policies (IPP) in November 9-23 among 1,115 respondents eligible to vote - the residents of various-type populated areas across the republic. The pollsters are saying the error should not be in the excess of В±3%.