USAID-funded survey reveals strong public support for EU and NATO and decreasing pessimism over the future
The USAID Political Party Support project, implemented by the International Republican Institute (IRI), carried out a comprehensive nationwide public opinion survey measuring the level of public support of Government institutions, political parties and key issues facing Macedonian citizens. The survey revealed overwhelming support for EU and NATO membership, at 96 and 94 percent respectively, and a reasonably consistent decrease in pessimistic attitudes about the overall direction of the country.
The state of Macedonia’s economy remains to be the top priority for its citizens. 80 percent of the respondents cite economic issues, such as unemployment and low standards of living, as being most important for Macedonia. 95 percent of respondents believe that foreign investment is the key solution to economic problems, with “peace and stability” and “stable government” as the top requirements for attracting foreign investors. IRI’s survey results can be found here:
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The survey was conducted by the local research supplier Brima, in collaboration with an American research firm Williams and Associates of Salem, Massachusetts. The poll was based on interviews with 1107 adult Macedonians conducted in September 2009. The margin of error for this poll is ±3 percent.