Poll finds 60% of Iraqis optimistic about future on election eve
According to the research undertaken by Oxford Research International, most of the population is nourishing hopes of improvement in their lives after the imminent election; their plea to the new government is to restore security.
Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) Optimism about the future of the country, a desire for democracy, faith in religious leaders and national police, but not in political parties: these are the most noteworthy findings of a survey carried out among the Iraqi population a few days before the legislative election slated for 15 December. The research by Oxford Research International reveals an optimistic Iraq which however is still very concerned about security and the presence of foreign troops.
The survey, commissioned by some large media networks, is based on a countrywide sample of 1,700 people. The study conducted between October and November 2005 divides Iraq into four regions - Kurdish, the Centre, Baghdad and the South. Seventy-one percent of respondents said their personal life was "very or quite" good; only 29% responded negatively to the same question.
The central region of the country, where the Sunni presence and the "insurgency" is strongest, proved to be an exception to the general optimism. In this area, the number of respondents who answered questions positively was less than those in the other three regions.
Regarding the country's future prospects, 64% said living conditions would improve, while 12% expected deterioration. However, Iraqis were more negative about the present: 53% said current conditions in the country were not good, while 44% said they were. More hope was vested in the nation's future: 69% expected Iraq to improve as compared to 11% who expected things to get worse.
Asked about the priorities the new government should tackle, 57% of respondents mentioned restoration of security. The withdrawal of foreign troops from the country was the second top urgency, brought up by 10%, followed soon after by the reconstruction of the national infrastructure.
According to 50% of respondents, Iraq needs a strong leader in the here-and-now, while 28% think democracy is more important. This, however, becomes the priority in the longer-term perspective: for 45% of respondents, in the coming five years, what the country will need most is precisely democracy, while the need for a strong leader is expressed by only 31% of respondents.
The need for democracy was not reflected in confidence in political parties, who enjoy the favour of only 25% of those interviewed, 67% of respondents said they put their trust in religious leaders and the national police.
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13/12/2005
31/01/2005
