The Romanians’ biggest worries

We invite you to take a look at the findings of a public opinion barometer entitled “The Truth about Romania, published this week.

Roxana Vasile, 02.08.2013, 13:21

The increase in prices, the possibility of losing their jobs and the decrease in incomes are the Romanians’ biggest worries, along with anxieties caused by the deterioration of their health, the fear of natural disasters and the possibility of a conflict or a war in the region. Although the percentage of the people worried about price-hikes decreased from over 34% to under 30%, it remains, however, relatively high.

The majority of respondents say the price of energy and fuel went up compared to last year, that it is higher than in other European countries and that in winter, half of the average income of most families is spent on energy and heating bills. 28.6% of Romanians were worried in July that they might lose their jobs, 6% more than in February. More people are also worried about the diminution of their incomes, that is 17.5% compared to a previous 16%.

Only 22.2% of respondents are not worried about the future and believe Romania is heading in the right direction. An overwhelming majority of 65.5% believe their country is not on the right track. These figures come as no surprise. Sociologists say the people’s discontent is the result both of a kind of inertia in terms of the perpetuation of negative perceptions accumulated in the recent years of economic crisis, and the delay in the implementation of the measures for economic and social recovery expected by the population.

The latest poll also includes questions about the desired form of government. Asked what they will say in the event of a referendum on Romania’s becoming a monarchy, 41% said they want their country to remain a republic. If Romania becomes a monarchy, a possibility supported by 27.2% of Romanians, almost a third of respondents said the throne should be occupied by the former sovereign Michael I, while 19% are in favour of his daughter, Margaret.

While more than half of all respondents believe the advantage of a republic is that the president is elected periodically and by the people and does not inherit this position, 4 out of 10 Romanians say monarchy has the advantage of not depending on political parties and can thus act as an unbiased mediator in political life. The poll was commissioned by a daily of national coverage between the 12th and the 21st of July 2013. 1,050 people were canvassed in 37 counties and the capital Bucharest. The admissible margin of error is +/- 3%.