DPA
Moscow, May 4 (DPA) As Vladimir Putin prepares to leave office, an opinion poll has shown around 78 per cent of Russians are satisfied with the Kremlin chief’s eight-year era, the Interfax news agency reported Sunday. About eight percent of the 1,500 respondents were negative about Putin’s term in office, according to the poll conducted by the Moscow-based polling firm, Fund for Public Opinion.

The Russian leader will make way May 7 for his successor, Dmitry Medvedev.

Putin’s presidency was a “period of achievement”, according to most respondents, which critics argued, had outweighed the negative aspects.

With Putin personally, 67 percent were pleased. The 55-year-old was seen as more “determined”, “tougher” and stronger than at the start of his term. In the last year, only 44 percent of respondents had praised the Kremlin chief, according to the polling firm.

Putin was re-elected as president in 2004, with 71 percent of the vote. A third term in office is not allowed under the constitution.

Putin is to leave office after parliament elects the new head of government Thursday He enjoys a general popularity in Russia. But from opposition ranks an abroad, Putin has been accused of suppressing democratic development in Russia.
DPA