Over 90% of the population of Gagauzia and Taraclia district consume only media products in the Russian language. The Russian media enjoy a high level of confidence, while the European, Romanian or Ukrainian media products are regarded with distrust. These are some of the results of an opinion poll conducted by the Institute for Public Policy. The survey shows that besides the linguistic factor, these realities are determined by the low attractiveness of the national media content compared with the Russian one, IPN reports.
The respondents said the future of Moldova as a state is uncertain. The main predictions are that Moldova will become a component part of Russia (34% of those polled) or will keep its independence as a federation, with Gagauzia and Transnistria as its component parts (32%). Some 19% of those questioned consider the country will be an independent unitary state.
33% of the respondents consider Moldova is a captive state. 76% support the protests mounted in central Chisinau last autumn.
The poll reveals that Russia and Turkey enjoy mainly positive attitudes among the residents of Gagauzia and Taraclia district. 95% of the respondents have positive attitudes to Russia, while 70% to Turkey. The indicator for Ukraine stands at an average level. In the case of the other countries and international organizations (Romania, OSCE, EU, U.S., NATO), the number of those with negative attitudes is over twice larger than the number of those with positive attitudes.
2/3 of the respondents want Moldova to form part of the Eurasian Union in the future, while 12.7% - of a new union of the former Soviet republics. The integration into the EU and the current status of country that is not a member of the listed unions are not popular.
The event held to present the poll results involved the Governor of Gagauzia Irina Vlana and the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Romania and Moldova Stella Ronner-Grubacic. The diplomat said the European Union is first of all a union of the respect for diversity, while the poll that reveals the realities and needs of the population of Gagauzia and Taraclia district is a useful instrument for formulating policies that can bring benefits to the autonomous unit and to the whole society of Moldova.
The poll covered a sample of 701 persons older than 18. It was carried out between November 21 and December 2, 2015. The margin of sampling error is 3.7%.
