Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 110

EAST EUROPE
Ruling United Russia Maintains Huge Lead
A majority of Russians would vote for the ruling party in the next legislative election, according to a poll by the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. 54 per cent of respondents would support United Russia (YR), down one point since January.
March 08, 2010
Little Appetite for Stalingrad in Russia
A proposal to return the City of Volgograd to its former name of Stalingrad is not popular in Russia, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. Only 17 per cent of respondents support this idea, while 59 per cent oppose it.
March 10, 2010
WEST EUROPE
Tories Maintain Lead Over Labour in Britain
The opposition Conservative Party keeps a comfortable lead in Britain, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 39 per cent of respondents would support the Tories in this year’s general election, down one point since mid-February.
March 13, 2010
Three-in-Five Germans Want New Foreign Minister
Many adults in Germany are dissatisfied with the performance of their current foreign minister, according to a poll by Forsa released by Stern and RTL. 60 per cent of respondents believe Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Guido Westerwelle is not well-suited for the post.
March 08, 2010
France’s Sarkozy Stuck in Negative Territory
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has not been able to re-build his charismatic brand, according to a poll by LH2. 56 per cent of respondents have a negative opinion of the president, up one point since January.
March 11, 2010
NORTH AMERICA
Americans' Global Warming Concerns Continue to Drop
Gallup's annual update on Americans' attitudes toward the environment shows a public that over the last two years has become less worried about the threat of global warming, less convinced that its effects are already happening, and more likely to believe that scientists themselves are uncertain about its occurrence.
March 11, 2010
U.S. Satisfaction Drops Below 20%
A new Gallup poll finds a continuing decline in Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States. Now at 19%, satisfaction has reverted to the levels seen in the first few months of the Obama presidency. Satisfaction was 13% when Obama took office in January 2009 but exceeded 30% during most of the summer.
March 10, 2010
In U.S., 45% Favor, 48% Oppose Obama Healthcare Plan
As President Obama begins a final push on healthcare reform, slightly more Americans say they would advise their member of Congress to vote against rather than for a healthcare reform bill similar to the one the president has proposed.
March 9, 2010
The Emotional Cost of Underemployment
Underemployed Americans are significantly more likely to be "struggling" (54%) than employed Americans (38%), according to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Those who are underemployed are also less likely to be "thriving," than those who are employed -- 42% versus 61%.
March 9, 2010
Dems Hold Slight Advantage in 2010 Election Preferences
Democrats lead Republicans by a slight 47% to 44% margin when registered voters are asked which party's congressional candidate they would support in their district "if the elections for Congress were being held today."At the same time, Gallup's inaugural weekly tracking update on the 2010 elections shows Republicans with a distinct advantage over Democrats in terms of enthusiasm about voting this year.
March 9, 2010
Upper-Income Spending Drops to New Low in February
Snowstorms, a declining stock market, and the new normal combined in February to drive upper-income Americans' self-reported spending to its lowest level since Gallup began Daily tracking more than two years ago.
March 8, 2010
Fewer Americans Set on Buying Foreign Cars
In their car purchasing decisions, Americans are now less likely to show exclusive loyalty to foreign brands than they were in the recent past. Six percent in a March 4-7 Gallup survey says they would consider only foreign makes when buying a car, compared with 12% in February 2009 and 15% in December 2008. Meanwhile, the percentage who would consider only American cars has leveled off after showing gains from 2008 to 2009.
March 10, 2010
Virtually No Change in Annual Harris Poll Confidence Index from Last Year
For 44 years, since 1966, The Harris Poll has measured how confident the American people are in the leaders of major U.S. institutions. Based on the responses, Harris calculates an overall Confidence Index. Over the years it has gone up and down. In 2002, it touched 65. In 2008, it fell to 44. This year it stands at 53, one point lower than in early 2009.
Mar 09, 2010
Canadians Clearly Support MP Wage Freeze
Most adults in Canada are in favour of a proposal to freeze the wages for MPs, cabinet ministers and senators, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 92 per cent of respondents support this idea, outlined in the latest Speech from the Throne.
March 09, 2010
LATIN AMERICA
Chile's New President Inherits Economic Challenges
New Chilean President Sebastian Pinera inherited several economic challenges other than the devastating effects of earthquake. Chile is the wealthiest nation in Latin America, but the gap between its rich and poor is among the widest in the world-- and Gallup's 2009 survey reveals that nearly three in four Chileans (74%) believe it is getting wider, about on par with previous years.
Half of Mexicans Content with President Calderón
Public support for Felipe Calderón remains stable in Mexico, according to a poll by Consulta Mitofsky. 53.4 per cent of respondents agree with the way the president is governing, up one point since January.
March 07, 2010
Chile’s Bachelet Leaves with Enviable Rating
A large proportion of adults in Chile are satisfied with the performance of their outgoing president, according to a poll by Adimark Gfk. 84 per cent of respondents approve of Michelle Bachelet’s performance.
March 13, 2010
AUSTALASIA
Australians Say Country is Too Crowded
Most people in Australia think their country cannot allow more inhabitants at this time, according to a poll by Essential Research. 75 per cent of respondents say the country lacks the infrastructure and proper services to support a larger population, and 61 per cent say the country’s fragile environment cannot bear the burden of a growing population.
March 09, 2010
MULTI-COUNTRY SURVEYS
Largest European Countries, U.S. and China Agree With Full Body Scanners in Airports
A new Financial Times/Harris Poll of adults under 65 finds support for increased security measures after the attempted bombing of a plane on Christmas Day. Majorities of those surveyed in the United States (64%), Great Britain (62%), Italy (58%), France (58%), and Germany (53%) as well as 46% of Spaniards and 44% of Chinese all agree that body scanners that X-ray the fill body should be introduced at airports.
March 03, 2010
People in European Countries, U.S. and China Concerned Over Online Security
A new Financial Times/Harris Poll among those under age 65 finds there is a sense of concern over online security and while people are doing some things to help keep their data and privacy secure, they may not be doing everything.
March 04, 2010
Four in Five Regard Internet Access as a Fundamental Right: Global Poll
The poll of more than 27,000 adults conducted by GlobeScan found that 87 per cent of those who used the internet felt that internet access should be “the fundamental right of all people.” More than seven in ten (71%) non-internet users also felt that they should have the right to access the web.
March 07, 2010
Canadians, Americans Differ on Political Correctness
People in Canada and the United States do not see eye-to-eye when it comes to "political correctness", according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 50 per cent of respondents in Canada support the concept, but only 41 per cent of Americans concur.
March 11, 2010
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The complete detailed weekly reports of the project can be found on theGilani Research Foundation website.