Tarlev’s popularity approaches Voronin’s, while Rosca is the less trusted - poll

President Vladimir Voronin continues to be the most popular politician in Moldova, although the trust he has won from the population is on the decrease. The head of state is followed by Prime Minister Vasile Tarlev in the popularity rating. The PM has received more support than a year ago. These are the findings of the Socio-Political Barometer (SPB) OMNIMAS, publicised on Thursday, April 19, in Chisinau, by IMAS-Inc Chisinau. According to the poll, 49% of the respondents have “much” to “very much trust” in Voronin. A year ago, this figure was of 55%. 44% say that they have no trust in Voronin. Vasile Tarlev is placed very close to the head of state in the popularity rating, earning the trust of 44%, which is by 1% more compared to last year. The share of those who do not trust him is 46%. Marian Lupu has placed third, being trusted by 34% (+2%). 41% do not trust Lupu. Eugenia Ostapciuc and Serafim Urecheanu are trusted by the same percentage of respondents – 21%; however, while Ostapciuc advanced by 2%, Urecheanu registered a 1% decrease. Iurie Rosca is the politician who is not trusted by most of the respondents – 74%, while 13% trust him. No data about his result for February 2006 are available. At the same time, the Church is still the most trusted institution (83%). 14 % do not trust the Church. Mass-Media received the support of 57%, and has been labelled untrustworthy by 38%. The Chisinau City Hall is credited with the trust of 47% and the lack of trust of 48%; Army – 47 and, respectively, 45%; Government –49 and 46%; Presidency – 50 and 46%; Parliament – 49 and 47%, respectively. Political parties are the less trusted institutions. The banking system is trusted by 35% and not trusted by 56%. The Socio-Political Barometer (SPB) OMNIMAS was conducted between March 14 and 23, on a sample of 1091 persons from Moldova, excluding Transnistria. The maximal sampling error is 3%.