Most protesters are apolitical, have higher education and complain about corruption, survey says

The Centre for Political Ideas Studies has conducted a survey among #resist protesters to identify their profile. 78% of them have higher education and 90% say they are not members of any political party, they are generally are on the right political spectre (62%) and have three main complaints: corruption, the laws of justice and the low standard of the political class. 90% they went to the polls, revista22.ro informs.

The poll was conducted on December 10, 2017 among those who participated in a protest rally in Victoriei Square between 18.30h and 22.30h, based on face-to-face interviews. At that time, more than 5,000 people were present in front of the Government offices.

• Protesters in Victoriei Square are predominantly men (54%), although women are also present (46%);
• Most of them are aged 25-44 (67%);
• They have higher education (78%) and are active on the labour market (75%), the overwhelming majority being employed by private companies;
• They believe Romania is heading to a “wrong direction” (97%), the most important problems faced by Romania identified at the time of the interview are corruption (24%) and Laws of Justice (13%);
• The vast majority of respondents say they are not members of any voluntary association/party, NGO, trade union, etc. – (90%);
• Only 10% of respondents say they did not vote at the last parliamentary elections, 90% say they went to the ballot;
• An overwhelming number of people said they have attended other protests since 2008 hitherto, 47% saying they were present at protests against GEO 13 in February 2017;
• 16% said they were present at the protests for Rosia Montana (2013);
• 39% of respondents said the only protest they went to in the past was against GEO 13 (February 2017);
• 5% of respondents said the protest on December 10, 2017 was the first protest they have attended;
• The main means of information related to protests are Facebook (48%) and online media (16%);
• Respondents indicated that they came to the protests accompanied by friends (36%) and/or their life partner (29%);
• Only 21% said they came alone (unaccompanied) to the protest;
• 60% of respondents said they were willing to use other forms of protest;
• Of the protest forms identified by the respondents, the strike was spontaneously indicated by 18%, and the fiscal strike was spontaneously indicated by 10%;
• Most respondents declare they support the democratic system ;
• 95% say they disagree with Romania’s EU exit and support a government of specialists (82%), only 15% are against;
• Only 29% say they prefer an authoritarian regime, 63% oppose this scenario, 95% oppose to a military regime and 97% oppose a religious regime;
• The strongest feeling is frustration (90%), followed by disappointment (83%) and fury (74%);
• Hope is felt by only 49% of the respondents, 51% mentioning that they have very little + little hope;
• Protests, generally as a means of action, are perceived to be efficient by 73% of respondents;
• At the same time, only 48% of respondents perceive the current protests as effective;
• The perception that political decision-makers are receptive to citizens’ wishes is shared by only 12% of respondents;
• Only 35% of respondents believe that political decision makers become more receptive to protests.

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