Survey of Macedonian
Public Opinion
April 19-25, 2016
Detailed Methodology
•
The survey was conducted on behalf of the International Republican Institute by the Brima market research
firm (member of Taylor Nelson Sofres and Gallup International) in cooperation with Chariot LLC in San
Francisco, California.
•
Data was collected from April 19 to 25, 2016, using in-person, face-to-face methodology by trained
professional interviewers.
•
A total of 1,104 interviews were completed, yielding an overall margin of error of plus or minus three
percent at the midrange of the 95-percent confidence level. A nationally representative sample was based
on a multistage stratification proportionate to population sample distribution, with a random selection of
households and respondents. The response rate was 75 percent.
•
The sample was prepared using the State Statistical Office data (2002 census results) for the population aged
18 and older. It also considered the structure of the population according to age, gender, education, type of
housing, national affiliation and region while updating accordingly to estimates and primary information,
collected by Brima.
•
Stratification was based on three stages: first, the number of respondents for each of region was specified in
proportion to the size of its population aged 18 and older. Second, the sampling plan consisted of 163
sampling points located according to urban/rural split, municipality size and nationality diffusion. Third, the
selection of households was based on a random route method, whereby in urban areas, every third
household on the left-hand side of the street was selected. In rural areas, the wave-wise approach was
applied to select every fourth inhabited house/dwelling on both sides of the interviewer’s route/track,
counting from the first house on the left.
•
The next birthday method was used to select respondents 18 years and older.
•
Figures in charts and tables may not add to 100 percent due to rounding error.
•
This poll was conducted with support from the United States Agency for International Development.
The Political Situation in Macedonia
How would you describe the current internal political
situation in Macedonia?
70%
61%
60%
56%
61%
50%
40%
30%
20%
44%
36%
43% 36%
43%
48%
42%
38%
39%
41%
39%
42%
29%
35%
28%
8%
3% 4%
7% 7%
3% 4%
9%
10%
23%
16%
15%
13%
3%
45% 45% 44% 46%
43%
41% 43% 40%
23%
10%
55%
51%
44% 53% 54%
10%
0%
55%
51%
38%
59%
13%
13%
6%
3%
3%
Peaceful and Stable
Critical and Unstable
2%
2%
3%
3%
12%
9%
4%
6%
12% 12%
4%
4%
19%
19%
15%
2%
4%
5%
3%
2%
Intense and Uncertain
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
4
Is the Republic of Macedonia more or less stable today
than it was one year ago?
80%
67%
70%
60%
60%
50%
40%
30%
43%
33%
35%
26%
21%
25%
20%
10%
46% 47% 46%
58%
51%
24%
27%
21% 22%
24%
17% 19% 18%
1%
2%
3%
2%
54% 53%
58%
50%
43%
42%
43%
30%
23%
17%
54% 54%
2%
2%
1%
1%
29% 28%
26%
25%
20%
1%
14%
18%
45%
47%
51%
47%
42%
35%
33%
31%
27%
31%
18% 16%
21% 23% 22%
19%
5% 4%
3%
1%
1% 1% 1%
2%
35%
38%
18%
5%
2%
3%
25%
15%
3%
5%
3%
0%
More
Less
Same
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
5
Overall, is Macedonia moving in the right or wrong direction?
70%
58%
60%
40%
30%
48% 48%
48%
50%
45%
40%
38%
38%
38%
37%
34% 33%
33% 33%
32%
32%
36% 36%
32%
33%
31%
28% 28%
25% 24%
20%
26%
44%
43%
40%
41%
39%
36%
35%
30%
29%
27% 31%
31%
31%
29%
32%
23%
27%
19%
26%
33%
27%
46%
39% 39%
36%
24%
31%
28% 26%
28%
21%
29%
23%
22%
24%
24%
20%
10%
1% 2%
3%
2%
1%
3%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
2%
2%
2%
1%
2%
1%
2%
3%
2%
0%
Right Direction
Wrong Direction
Neutral
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
6
In your opinion, what are the two most serious problems facing Macedonia today?
(Open-Ended)
27%
Unemployment
17%
General/current political
situation/the political crisis
Poverty, low standard of living,
problems of common people
26%
12%
38%
10%
23%
13%
7%
12%
Economic crisis and financial crisis
Low or non-payment of salary or
pension
19%
5%
10%
3%
6%
Corruption
8%
1%
6%
4%
Immigration/youth
1%
3%
4%
The current protests
2%
2%
4%
Poor performance of the current
government
1%
2%
3%
Law and order, rule of law
1%
2%
3%
Security crisis, peace, stability,
war, terrorism
1%
1%
3%
0%
14%
9%
3%
5%
Crime
High prices
44%
5%
First Mention
10%
15%
Second Mention
20%
25%
30%
7
Do you support or do not support President Ivanov’s decision
to pardon all politicians and their associates against whom
there are judicial investigations in regards to the political
crisis and the wiretapping?
12%
9%
I completely support it
14%
I somewhat support it
I somewhat do not support it
I completely do not support it
11%
Don't know/Refused to answer
53%
8
Should the politicians who were pardoned by the President
about deeds connected to the political crisis and the
wiretapping be eligible or not be eligible to be candidates
for MPs in the upcoming parliamentary elections?
18%
12%
Yes, they should be eligible
No, they should not be
eligible
Don't know/Refused to answer
70%
9
A special public prosecutor, Katica Janeva, was appointed to
investigate cases connected to the wiretapped conversations
mentioned previously. Do you think that Ms. Janeva will be
able to investigate these cases independently and without
obstruction?
50%
44%
45%
38%
40%
35%
30%
35%
33%
27%
28%
25%
22%
18% 17%
20%
15%
20%
13%
10%
7%
5%
0%
Yes
No
October 2015
I have not heard of
this appointment
January 2016
Don’t know/
Refused to answer
April 2016
10
Do you support the work of the Special Public
Prosecutor for the resolution of the wiretapping
scandal?
12%
I completely support it
I somewhat support it
42%
17%
I somewhat do not support it
I completely do not support it
9%
Don't know/
Refused to answer
21%
11
Some people think that the conditions for free and fair elections in Macedonia
(including cleaning the voter list, increasing the capacity of the State Election
Commission, and establishing regulations reducing political interference in the
media) have been met and because of this elections should take place on June 5;
while others think that these conditions have not been met and because of this the
elections should be postponed until the conditions are fulfilled.
Which is closer to your opinion?
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
45%
47%
39%
38%
15%
10%
16%
5%
15%
0%
Elections should take place on
June 5
Elections should be postponed
January 2016
Don't know/
Refused to answer
April 2016
Note: Data taken for January 2016 relates to proposed April 24, 2016 election date.
12
How likely, if at all, are you to vote in the next
elections expected on June 5, 2016?*
60%
52%
50%
40%
39%
30%
22%
20%
19%
8% 9%
10%
11%
7%
12%
10%
5%
6%
0%
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat
unlikely
January 2016
Very unlikely
Would not vote
Don't know/
Refused to
answer
April 2016
* In January, the question was phrased “How likely, if at all, are you to vote in the next
elections expected on April 24, 2016?”
13
How likely, if at all, are you to vote in the next elections
expected on June 5, 2016?
Age 55+
46%
Age 35-54
16%
40%
Age 18-34
18%
31%
0%
10%
22%
20%
30%
40%
8%
11%
12%
8%
16%
7%
50%
13%
60%
70%
7%
10%
8%
11%
16%
80%
90%
Very likely
Somewhat likely
Somewhat unlikely
Very unlikely
Would not vote
Don't know/Refused to answer
100%
14
Do you think there are conditions in the country
to hold free and fair elections?
April 2016
January 2016
October 2015
48%
45%
59%
63%
Definitely Yes / Probably Yes
7%
35%
30%
Definitely No / Probably No
6%
7%
Don't know
15
As you may know, a credible voter list should contain all
eligible voters in the country and not have any ineligible or
duplicate voters in it. How confident are you in the accuracy
of the voter list in Macedonia?
35%
29%
30%
31%
27%
26%
25%
21%
20%
15%
17%
23%
26%
24%
17%
15%
13%
12%
9%
10%
10%
5%
0%
I am very
confident
I am somewhat
confident
I am not that
confident
October 2015
I am not
confident at all
January 2016
Don’t know/
Refused to
answer
April 2016
16
Do you think that state institutions are capable of
sufficiently addressing any irregularities, should they
occur, on Election Day?
45%
40%
39% 40% 38%
35%
35%
33% 32%
30%
25%
21%
17% 18%
20%
15%
10% 9% 9%
10%
5%
0%
Yes, they are capable
No, they are not
sufficiently capable
October 2015
No, they are not
capable at all
January 2016
Don't know
April 2016
17
What institution do you think is most responsible to ensure
the elections will be free, democratic and with no
irregularities?
60%
51%
50%
43%
40%
33%
30%
25%
20%
17%
13%
20%
17%18%
11%
10%
7%
11%10%11%
9%
2% 2% 2%
0%
State Election
Commission
Ministry of
Internal
Affairs/Police
The
Government
October 2015
Political Parties The Judiciary
January 2016
Don’t know/
Refused to
answer
April 2016
18
To what degree did you trust the following according
to their actions in the last 12 months?
Special Public Prosecution
33%
The President
40%
30%
52%
Ministries
27%
The Government
27%
State Election Commission
26%
44%
Public Prosecution
25%
46%
The Assembly
43%
53%
23%
Courts
21%
Media
20%
State Commission
for Prevention of Corruption
20%
Political Parties
54%
52%
43%
52%
16%
0%
I Trust Them/
I Fully Trust Them
49%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
I Have No Trust/
I Have No Trust at All
19
Do you believe that your vote on Election Day is secret?
80%
70%
69%
66%
71%
62%
66%
61%
60%
49%
50%
40%
39%
30%
23%
20%
10%
8%
31%
27%
23%
22%
13%
7%
7%
28%
7%
11%
11%
0%
Feb-14
May-14
Yes
Sep-14
No
Dec-14
Oct-15
Jan-16
Apr-16
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
20
Who do you think violates the secrecy of your vote?
Those who think that their vote on election day is not secret, n=309
38%
39%
Political Parties, All of Them
12%
The Government
VMRO-DPMNE
12%
6%
15%
43%
19%
17%
1%
1%
SDSM
April-16
7%
5%
6%
DUI
January-16
1%
0%
1%
DPA
October-15
3%
State Election Commission
8%
6%
0%
2%
1%
The Police
18%
20%
19%
Don't Know/
Refused to Answer
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
21
Have you or has a member of your family, relative or someone you
know personally ever been subject to pressure, such as force, threats,
vote-buying or other illegal means, to vote in a particular way?
80%
75% 72%74%
71%
72%
70%
67%
67%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
24% 24%
17% 18% 19% 19%
18%
15%
10%
3%
5%
7%
7%
4%5%5% 4% 3%
3%
7%
4%5%5% 5%
8%
0%
I Personally Know People
Who Were Subjected to
Pressure
I Was Personally
Subjected to Pressure
February 2014
June 2015
May 2014
October 2015
I Was Neither Subjected
to Pressure nor Know
People Who Were
September 2014
January 2016
Don't Know/
Refused to Answer
December 2014
April 2016
In Feb. 2014 responses refer to 2011, 2013 and 2014 elections. In May 2014 responses refer to 2014 elections
22
Has Nikola Gruevski done his job well enough to deserve re-election?
70%
66%
61% 61%
61%
60%
56%
59%
51%
50%
54%
54%
45%
40%
20%
18%
10%
27%
15% 16%
47%
38%
35%
37%
41%
40%
39%
38%
32%
31%
15%
12%
14%
39%
48%
46%
45%
44%
33%
25%
22%
17%
44%
36%
27%
24%
42%
52%
40%
33%
30%
23%
45% 43%
40% 39%
38%
30%
47%
48% 48%
55%
55%
53%
12%
15%
23%
14%
11%
18%
17%
17%
13%
11%
11%
13%
15%
15%
13%
15%
13%
13%
0%
Yes
No
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
23
Euro Atlantic Orientation Prevails
How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following
statements?
Macedonia’s interests are best served by maintaining strong
relations with:
European Union
39%
Germany
34%
33%
Turkey
37%
26%
America
China
29%
16%
0%
Strongly agree
10%
14%
30%
20%
30%
Somewhat agree
40%
50%
Somewhat disagree
12%
13%
11%
23%
23%
60%
11%
17%
12%
14%
9%
10%
12%
29%
24%
9%
9%
37%
29%
Russia
9%
70%
13%
17%
80%
Strongly disagree
90%
100%
Don't know
25
According to you, which one of these countries helps
Macedonia’s national interests the most?
European Union
22%
Turkey
12%
Russia
11%
United States of America
10%
Germany
7%
China
1%
Neither
19%
All of them
5%
Don't know
13%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
26
Do you support Macedonia becoming a member of the
EU?
100%
90%
96%
94% 93% 92% 95% 93% 96% 94% 92%
90%
80%
87%
84%
76%
70%
72% 72%
76%
80%
72% 72% 71%
60%
50%
40%
30%
19% 20%
20%
10%
0%
3%
1%
4%
2%
5%
1%
7%
1%
4%
1%
6%
1%
Yes
4%
6%
1% 1%
No
7%
1%
9%
1%
9%
4%
23%
14%
12%
4%
22% 22% 23%
20%
6%
8%
6%
5%
6%
6%
7%
4%
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
27
In how many years do you think Macedonia
will become a member of the EU?
16%
1-5
1-5 years
18%
21%
6-106-10
years
23%
More Than
10
21%
More Than 10 years
25%
25%
27%
25%
18%
17%
18%
Never
Never
Don't Know
Know/
NoDon't
Answer
14%
Refused to Answer
0%
5%
October 2015
10%
15%
January 2016
16%
17%
20%
25%
30%
April 2016
28
Do you think Macedonia is closer to EU entry today, or
was it closer when it got its EU candidate member
status?
60%
56%
51%
50%
45%
43%
50%
26%
26%
25%
24%
44%
39%
40%
32%
32%
34%
30%
20%
50%
27%
23%
28%
28%
26%
28%
25%
21%
18%
10%
0%
Feb-14
May-14
Sep-14
Dec-14
Jun-15
Oct-15
Jan-16
Apr-16
Closer Today
When It Got the Status of EU Candidate Country
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
29
According to you, what is the reason for the slowdown
in Macedonia’s EU integration?
The Name
Issue
41%
Lack of
Domestic
Reforms
23%
28%
27%
28%
16%
15%
15%
17%
New Conditions
Set by the EU
Don't Know/
Refused to
Answer
Other
48%
45%
47%
9%
0%
0%
11%
9%
11%
2%
2%
3%
10%
June 2015
20%
October 2015
30%
January 2016
40%
50%
60%
April 2016
30
Do you support Macedonia becoming a member of NATO?
100% 92%
94% 92% 94%
91%
91%
90% 90% 89%
89% 89%
87% 85%
90%
78% 77%
80%
83% 83%
74%
76%
73%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
5%
3%
8%
8%
2% 2%
9%
2%
6%
7%
5%
1%
1%
1%
Yes
8% 10% 10% 6%
2%
1%
No
2%
19% 18% 20%
16% 15%
13% 12%
9% 11%
7% 7% 8%
7%
5%
6%
4%
4% 4%
3%
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
31
Given its capacities, how do you feel the Macedonian
government has handled the refugee crisis?
21%
It is providing too much support to the refugees
28%
27%
34%
It is providing sufficient support to the refugees
37%
35%
11%
10%
9%
It is providing some support, but needs to do
more for the refugees
16%
16%
14%
It is not providing sufficient support to the
refugees
I am not aware of the current refugee crisis
4%
5%
Refuse to answer/Don't know
5%
0%
October 2015
5%
January 2016
7%
12%
11%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
April 2016
32
In your opinion, how is the European Union’s handling
of the refugee crisis affecting Macedonia?
70%
59%
60%
54%
50%
46%
40%
30%
21%
20%
10%
16%
10%
18%
19%
17%
17%
13%
10%
0%
Positively
Negatively
October 2015
It Has No Effect
January 2016
Don't know/
Refused to answer
April 2016
33
Citizens’ Everyday Concerns and
Economic Issues
Speaking personally, is your overall quality of life…?
60%
50%
54% 53%
48%
49%
50% 49%
50%
48%
48%
45%
32%
31%
24%
35%
37%
38%
19%
20%
22%
19%
20%
15%
16% 16%
13%
38%
31%
17%
14%
13%
15%
17%
13%
32%
15%
50%
45% 44%
37%
37%
33%
26%
53% 52%
47%
39%
37%
36%
53%
47% 47% 48%
40%
40%
30%
51%
42%
36% 37%
34%
18%
13% 12%
11%
14%
13%
10%
0%
1% 0% <1% 1%
Getting Better
0%
1%
<1% 1%
<1% 0%
Staying the Same
0% <1% 1%
Getting Worse
0%
1%
<1% 0% <1%
1%
1%
1%
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
35
How is your family’s economic situation compared with
one year ago?
60%
50%
50%
51%
48%
45%
44%
40%
33%
30%
20%
35%
42%
42%
44%
43% 44%
44% 43%
41%
52%
51%
45% 45% 46% 44%
44%
42% 43% 43% 42%43%
50%
45%
35%
35%
32%
34%
32% 32%
32%
33%
35%
30%
20%
18%
20% 21%
20%
16%
10%
0%
53% 54% 54%
12%
1% <1%<1% 0%
0%
14%
16%
0% <1% 0%
Much or Somewhat Better
Same
13% 13%
0%
11%
14% 13% 14%
0% <1% 0%
0%
1%
15% 16%
0%
1%
15%
14% 13% 14%
0%
1%
Much or Somewhat Worse
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
0%
0%
1%
36
In the next two years, will the Macedonian economy get
better, get worse or stay the same?
60%
50%
50%
44%
43%
40%
38%
35%
33%
29%
10%
35% 35%
37%
30% 31% 30%
31%
30%
20%
37%
36%
29% 29% 29%
30%
34% 35%
31%
40% 40%
37%
34%
39%
35%
36%
30% 29% 29% 29% 29%
29% 33% 34%
30%
28% 30%32% 23% 28%
25% 25% 26%
19%
15%
9%
43% 43%
21%
7%
6%
32% 32%
23%
21%
19% 20%
4% 5% 5% 4% 5%
4% 4%
4%
6%
5% 6%
7%
35%
26%
15%
6%
33% 33%
5%
9% 9%
10%
11%
0%
Better
Same
Worse
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
37
In your opinion, has unemployment increased or
decreased over the last year?
90%
80%
76%
71%
70%
60%
58%
50%
30%
20%
10%
74% 75%
71%
67%
54%
53%
50%
30%
29%
8%
50%
46%
46%
44%
34%
13% 13%
55%
52%
23%
12%
71%
72%
61%
38% 37%
40%
75%
17% 19%
10%
21% 21%
19%19%
24%
27%
8% 7%
6% 7% 7% 7%
5% 6% 7%
39%
9%
43%
45%
42%
13% 12%
35%
39%
49%
44%
41%
41%
10% 11% 9% 10%
7%
0%
Increased
Decreased
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
38
According to you, does the government have an
effective plan to address the economic problems
Macedonia is facing?
70%
60%
59%
56%
46%
50%
58% 57%
56%
49% 49% 49%
40%
30%
50%
53% 54%
45%
42%
41% 40%
38% 38% 38%
52%
51% 50%
42%
37% 36% 37%
34%
32%
38%
34%
33% 32%
36%
33%
20%
18%
10%
12%
14%
13% 13%
13%
10%
10%
13% 12%
13% 14%
12%
8%
9%
11%
11%
0%
Yes
No
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
39
How would you place your views on this scale?
1 means you agree completely with the statement on the left;
7 means you agree completely with the statement on the right; and if
your views fall somewhere in between, you can choose any number in
between.
21%
24%
51%
Support more foreign
In between
investments and
(4)
companies (1+2+3)
0%
10%
20%
30%
4%
Support more domestic
investments and companies (5+6+7)
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Don’t
know
90%
100%
40
Using the scale in Macedonian schools, from one to five
(one being the least important and five being the most
important), how important are each of these issues in your
daily life?
6.0
5.0
4.6 4.7 4.7
4.7
4.6 4.7
Political
Stability
Reducing
Corruption
4.8
4.6 4.6
4.8 4.7
4.6
4.7
4.8 4.8
4.8 4.8 4.8
4.5
4.8 4.8
4.0
3.8 3.7 3.7
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
EU
Membership
October 2015
Lower
Taxes
Employment
January 2016
Lower
Prices
Security
Higher
Wages
April 2016
41
For some people some types of personal security are
more important than others. How important is each of
the following types of personal security to you?
Health Insurance
97%
2%
1%
Physical Security
96%
3% 1%
Pension
Insurance
88%
Job Security
4%
73%
Social Aid
4%
54%
0%
10%
20%
Very Important/Important
12%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Very Unimportant/Unimportant
7%
22%
33%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Not applicable
42
Regardless of how you answered the previous question,
can you tell me if the security of each of the following
is getting worse, is the same, or is getting better for
you personally?
Health Insurance
15%
Pension Insurance
13%
Physical Security
23%
23%
27%
10%
Better
20%
Same
19%
30%
Worse
40%
26%
4%
40%
50%
60%
Not Applicable
70%
4%
2%2%
30%
39%
5%
1%2%
13%
57%
7%
0%
25%
47%
10%
Job Security
Social Aid
57%
8%
80%
90%
100%
Don't know
43
When was life better for you, today or before the
breakup of Yugoslavia?
80%
70%
70%
70% 68% 70%
70% 68% 69%
69%
67%
67%
67%
64% 64% 63%
62%
60% 60%
64%
57%
60%
50%
40%
30%
27%
22% 20% 21% 21% 21% 22% 22% 22% 23% 22%
19%
24%
21%
24%
26% 24%
22%
24%
20%
10%
12%12%
10% 11%
0%
Today
9%
16% 16%
12%
8%
10%
Before breakup
8%
10%
9%
9%
12%
14% 14% 14%
18%
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
44
If you could have only one or the other, which is more
important to you: a democratic system of government
or a prosperous economy?
45%
40%
35%
30%
41%
38%
33%32%
32%
28%
25%
20%21%
18%
20%
15%14% 14%15%
13%
15%
25%
22%
27%27%
16%
15%
9%
10%
6%
7%
6% 7%
5%
0%
Democracy is
Definitely More
Important to Me
December 2014
Democracy is
Somewhat More
Important to Me
June 2015
Prosperity is
Somewhat More
Important to Me
October 2015
Prosperity is
Definitely More
Important to Me
January 2016
Don't Know/
Refused to Answer
April 2016
45
Do you think that free speech and the free expression
of ideas exists in Macedonia today?
60%
50%
40%
55%
48%
49%
46%
47%
48%
48%
49%
46%
43%
51%
48%
48%
45%
44%
46%
51%
45%
42%
38%
30%
20%
10%
6%
4%
6%
9%
10%
7%
7%
Dec-14
Jun-15
5%
6%
5%
Oct-15
Jan-16
Apr-16
0%
Dec-10
Nov-12
Feb-14
Yes
May-14
No
Sep-14
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
46
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Politicians do not listen to the needs and ideas of
young people.”
80%
70%
69%
68%
63% 64%
60%
60%
50%
40%
29% 29%
30%
33%
23% 24%
20%
8%
10%
8%
7%
7%
7%
0%
Agree
December 2014
Disagree
June 2015
October 2015
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
January 2016
April 2016
47
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
“Politicians do not listen to the needs and ideas of
women.”
60%
52%
50%
50% 49% 49%
47%
40%
36% 37%
39%
42%
39%
30%
20%
12%
14%
10%
12%
14%
9%
0%
Agree
December 2014
Disagree
June 2015
October 2015
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
January 2016
April 2016
48
If there are two candidates running for office and they have
the same qualifications aside from the fact that one is a man
and one is a woman, which candidate are you more likely to
support?
80%
69%
70%
73% 72%
66%
59%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
23%
16%
12%
14%
12%
10%
19%
17%
9%
18%
13%
2% 1% 3% 2% 1%
0%
Man
December 2014
Woman
June 2015
Makes No Difference to
Me
October 2015
January 2016
Don't Know/
Refused to Answer
April 2016
49
Media
What is your primary source of political news?
Multiple Responses
100%
90%
90%90% 87% 89% 88%
80%
70%
60%
50%
35% 37%
40%
30%
20%
10%
5% 4%
7% 8% 7%
16%
12%13% 12% 13%
23%
18%
15%
30%
27%
23%23%
19%
4% 4% 5%
2% 3%
0%
Television
December 2014
Radio
Print Media
June 2015
Family/
Friends
October 2015
Political Parties
January 2016
Internet/
Web Pages
April 2016
51
Which television station do you watch most often for
political news?
21%
22%
Alsat M
24%
20%
SITEL
23%
28%
13%
14%
13%
Kanal 5
24 Vesti
10%
Telma
8%
Do Not Watch TV
4%
13%
12%
10%
April 2016
10%
6%
January 2016
6%
5%
5%
5%
MTV (Macedonian Language)
Alfa
1%
MTV (Albanian Language)
1%
1%
0%
October 2015
2%
3%
2%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
52
Do the following TV stations favor or do not favor a
particular political party?
MTV
47%
2% 1%
Sitel
15%
33%
0%
1% 6%
69%
Telma
7%
31%
Kanal 5
23%
53%
Alsat-M 2% 7%
0%
18%
10%
VMRO-DPMNE
20%
SDSM
35%
3%
3%
19%
30%
40%
DUI
DPA
22%
11%
31%
49%
50%
60%
70%
Not in favor of any party
80%
90%
100%
Don't know
53
Which daily newspaper do you read most often for
political news?
67%
66%
63%
Do Not Read Newspapers
7%
8%
9%
Koha
7%
8%
7%
Dnevnik
4%
4%
6%
Vest
4%
4%
4%
Lajme
April 2016
January 2016
3%
3%
4%
1%
2%
2%
Sloboden Pecat
Vecer
October 2015
2%
2%
1%
1%
2%
1%
Utrinski Vesnik
Nova Makedonija
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
54
Which weekly newspaper do you read most often for
political news?
85%
88%
87%
90%
Do Not Read Weekly Newspapers
5%
5%
5%
5%
Fokus
April 2016
January 2016
October 2015
3%
3%
3%
2%
Republika
June 2015
1%
1%
1%
1%
Kapital
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90% 100%
55
To what level do you agree with the statement?
“Government advertising in the media
negatively affects press freedom.”
April 2016
29%
January 2016
26%
October 2015
25%
December 2014
17%
18%
15%
0%
10%
32%
14%
20%
9%
26%
17%
9%
36%
40%
8%
10%
26%
21%
18%
May 2014
23%
16%
22%
September 2014
22%
11%
60%
10%
11%
9%
8%
7%
11%
80%
14%
12%
15%
14%
16%
13%
100%
Completely Agree
Somewhat Agree
Neither Agree nor Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
Completely Disagree
Don't Know/Refused to Answer
56
Political Parties and Elections
To which political party do you belong or would you consider
joining?
30%
25%
27%
24%
23%
24%
20%
18%
16%
15%
15%
12%
10%
6% 6%
6%
4%
5%
3%
4%
2%
2%
1%
2%
3%
4%
0%
VMRODPMNE
SDSM
DUI
DPA
NDR
January 2016
Other
Undecided
April 2016
BESA
Would Not
No
Join
Answer/
Refused to
Answer
58
(If all parties participate), for which party would you vote if
parliamentary elections were held today?
35%
31%
30%
25%
20%
27%
22%23%
18%
16%
15%
9%
10%
7% 7%
6% 6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
7%
3%
4%
5%
4%
1%
0%
January 2016
April 2016
59
Which party, in your opinion, is most active in your
village/town/city?
Don't Know/Refused to
Answer
13%
1%
3%
2%
2%
Other
13%
14%
15%
14%
None
BESA
NDR
GROM
DPA
April 2016
January 2016
0%1%
1%
0%
1%
2%
2%
1%
1%
2%
2%
3%
3%
2%
2%
October 2015
June 2015
DUI
SDSM
15%17%
17%
6%
7%
9%
10%
11%
11%
9%
42%
VMRO-DPMNE
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
45%
45%
47%
50%
60
Which party, in your opinion, works the hardest to get your support?
11%
Don't Know/
Refused to Answer
2%
Other
15%
14%
18%
3%
3%
3%
None
28%
NDR
1%
1%
1%
1%
BESA
33%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
DPA
31%
30%
3%
3%
3%
7%
DUI
5%
SDSM
6%
9%
10%
13%
13%
27%
27%
VMRO-DPMNE
30%
0%
June 2015
5%
10%
October 2015
15%
20%
January 2016
25%
30%
32%
35%
April 2016
61
Using the scale used in Macedonian schools, what grade
would you give for the overall performance of … ?
3
2.5
2.73
2.7
2.54
2.58 2.48
2.36
2.29
2.16
2.26
2.17
1.87
1.74
2
1.79
1.72
1.79
1.65
1.77
1.66
1.57
1.6
1.91 1.84 1.82
1.9
1.8
2.12 2.02
1.96
1.99
1.95
2.21
2.04
1.87
1.92 1.89
2.02
1.98
1.87
1.84
1.5
1
0.5
0
SDSM
DUI
VMRO-DPMNE
December 2014
June 2015
DPA
NSDP
October 2015
DOM
January 2016
NDR
BESA
April 2016
62
Using the scale used in Macedonian schools, what grade would
you give for the overall performance of … ?
2.2
2.19
2.21
2.52
2.51
2.51
2.29
2.48
2.44
2.26
2.34
2.38
2.42
2.4
2.43
2.31
2.7
2.15
2.11
2.29
2.28
2.4
2.8
2.41
2.49
2.59
2.45
2.86
2.59
2.7
2.75
2.67
2.5
2.55
2.6
2.68
2.8
2.88
3
2.28
2
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
Government
Opposition
December-14
(Former) Prime
Minister
June-15
President
October-15
Parliament
January-16
Media
President of
Parliament
April-16
63
When you think about people in public political life, who is
the one person in Macedonia that you view most favorably?
(Open-Ended)
None
35%
Nikola Gruevski
18%
Zoran Zaev
5%
38%
45%
21%
23%
9%
8%
April 2016
January 2016
4%
4%
4%
Ali Ahmeti
Gjorge Ivanov
2%
Menduh Thaci
2%
2%
1%
Branko Crvenkovski
2%
2%
3%
Rufi Osmani
1%
2%
2%
Zijadin Sela
2%
1%
1%
0%
October 2015
4%
4%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
64
I will read you a list of public figures in Macedonia. Please tell me if you have a
very favorable, somewhat favorable, somewhat unfavorable, or very unfavorable
opinion of that person. If you have never heard of that person please just say so…
45%
25%
49%
34%
34%
33%
19%
17%
5%
12%
12%
11%
11%
-15%
-24%
-21%
-22%
-35%
-55%
-35%
-58%
-55%
-55%
-54%
-25%
-36%
-37%
Billal
Kasami
Katica
Janeva
-47%
-64%
-72%
-61%
-72%
Ali
Ahmeti
Menduh
Thaci
-61%
-75%
Gjorge
Ivanov
Nikola
Gruevski
Zoran
Zaev
Liljana
Popovska
Tito
Petovski
65
Why do you support the party you vote for; is it because it can
help you or your family personally or do you support it because you
believe it is the best for the country as a whole?
Because it can help me or my family
personally
6%
21%
Because I believe it is the best for the
country as a whole
Both at the same time
14%
49%
I do not vote
10%
Don't know
66
Why do you support the party you vote for; is it because you
identify with this party or do you support this party because you
think they are the best choice for Macedonia right now?
Because I identify with that party
7%
22%
Because I think that party is the best choice
right now
Both at the same time
14%
47%
I do not vote
11%
Don't know
67
What do you consider to be the most important
characteristic of a political leader?
Multiple responses
Responsible/Fulfills promises
35%
Honest
34%
Understands the problems of the people
29%
Qualified/Competent
22%
Visionary
15%
Consistent political views
14%
Hardworking
14%
Trustworthy
13%
Don't Know
5%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
68
Demographics
GENDER
Demographics
Female
50%
Male
50%
AGE
18-34
33%
35-54
36%
55-65+
32%
Macedonian
64%
ETHNICITY
Albanian
Turkish
26%
3%
Roma 2%
Serbian
1%
Other
4%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
70
Demographics
Student
5%
Unemployed
23%
OCCUPATION
Retired
19%
Housewife
9%
Professional
7%
White Collar Worker
Agricultural
9%
3%
Blue Collar Worker
23%
EDUCATION
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
(MONTHLY)
Other
1%
0-9000 Denars
7%
22%
9001-18000 Denars
18001-27000 Denars
21%
27001 Denars or More
21%
Don't know/Refused to Answer
None/Incomplete Elementary
29%
4%
Elementary
21%
Secondary
51%
Higher Education/University
24%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
71
Center for Insights in Survey Research
202.408.9450 | [email protected]
www.IRI.org | @IRI_Polls