Posted: 16.12.2021 16:12:00

About 60% Belarusians believe the country needs updated Constitution

During today’s presentation of results of the Belarus. A Vision of the Future large-scale sociological poll conducted by the EcooM Analytical Centre together with the National Academy of Sciences’ Sociology Institute, Sergei Musiyenko, the Director of the EcooM Analytical Centre, said that 27.9 percent of respondents firmly stated that Belarus needs an updated Constitution. Another 30.8 percent of Belarusians answered ‘rather yes’, while 23.3 percent found it difficult to answer. 17.5 percent answered ‘no’ or ‘rather no’.

Photo: dofa.news

When answering the question of what changes to the current Constitution are viewed as necessary (it assumed the sum of answers of more than 100 percent), about 70 percent of respondents named preservation of basic guarantees (for health protection, social security in old age, employment, education, etc.). Almost 40 percent of Belarusians spoke in favour of preserving security guarantees, while another 28 percent mentioned expansion of citizens’ civil rights and freedoms. The top five responses also included redistribution of powers between the main branches of government (15.1 percent) and expansion of local self-government rights (9.6 percent).

The sociological poll was conducted from November 15th to December 4th, 2021, attracting 10,217 respondents – mostly economically active citizens. The survey sample is multi-stage, stratified (by region of residence and type of settlement), with control of quotas by gender and age. The study covered all regions of Belarus, the city of Minsk, 52 districts (including 9 districts of the capital), almost 350 organisations and enterprises of various spheres and forms of ownership. Sociologists also note a high interest of citizens in the survey. The majority of respondents positively perceived the interest of sociologists in their position and assessments. People took the survey as an opportunity to convey their opinion about the problems of concern and the future of the country.