According to CEDEM's and DAMAR's polls there are no significant changes in the public opinion: 55.6% of citizens of Montenegro would vote for independent Montenegro
by R.V.
Vijesti, Podgorica, Montenegro, FR Yugoslavia, January 24, 2001
If the referendum question were "Should Montenegro be an independent state", 49.8% of polled citizens of Montenegro would vote YES, while 39.8% would vote NO. This result refers to the total number of polled citizens. If the assumed turnout of 75 to 80 percent of registered voters is taken into account, the result would be that 55.6% would vote for and 44.4% against independence. That means that there were no significant changes with respect to the October poll, indicates the most recent public opinion poll conducted by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) and the agency DAMAR between December 12 and January 19. The poll included 1,028 respondents in eight municipalities: Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Cetinje, Herceg Novi, Niksic, Pljevlja and Podgorica.
To the question: "Is the platform of the Government of Montenegro about the alliance of independent and internationally recognized states Montenegro and Serbia acceptable for you", 44.4% of respondents answered yes, 43.3 no, while 12.3 did not have a definite opinion.
The platform of the President of FRY, Vojislav Kostunica about the functional federation of Montenegro and Serbia is acceptable for 33.1% of participants, 49.5% stated that it was not acceptable, while 17.4 percent did not have a definite opinion.
To the question about the order, elections then referendum, or referendum without elections, the following answers were obtained:
48.5 percent of respondents opted for the option first elections then the referendum, while 40 percent supported holding of a referendum without an early election. The question "What would be the best organization of the relation between Montenegro and Serbia?" gave the following results:
Montenegro as a part of the existing federation on the basis of the 1992 Constitution - 16.1%; Confederation (alliance) of equal republics Montenegro and Serbia with one seat in the UN - 18.5%; The alliance of independent and internationally recognized states with two seats in the U.N. - 15.2%; Montenegro - an independent and internationally recognized state - 36%; Federation FRY, republics should be abolished and the state should be centralized - 7%; no answer - 7.2%.[or 41.6% for a single state and 51.6% for two independent states]
Among the politicians, the president of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic enjoys the greatest trust, of 27% of respondents. He is followed by Predrag Bulatovic with 12%, Vojislav Kostunica with 9%, Slavko Perovic with 7.2% etc. The institution of the president of Montenegro is greatly trusted by 34.4% of respondents, while the Yugoslav Army is in the second place with 29%, followed by the Montenegrin Government with 24.1%. At the same time 48.9% of respondents stated that they had no trust in the Federal Parliament, 43.7% in the Federal Government, 41.9% in Federal courts, 34.8% in the institution of the president of FRY, while 33.3% had no trust in the Yugoslav Army.
Vijesti still trusted the most
Citizens of Montenegro, as always so far, trust Vijesti the most out of all daily newspapers, indicates the most recent public opinion poll carried out by CEDEM and DAMAR. Among the TV stations covering Montenegro, the citizens trust the most the First Channel of TV Montenegro (28.5%), and Radio Montenegro (26.6%). However, in Podgorica NTV Montena (36.1%) and Elmag radio (28.9%) are trusted the most.
Which Daily newspaper do you trust the most?
Vijesti - 36.6%; Pobjeda [Podgorica] - 21.1%; Dan [Podgorica] - 19.2%; Vecernje Novosti [Belgrade] - 11.5%; Politika [Belgrade] - 5.7%; Blic [Belgrade] - 5.5%; Ekspres Politika [Belgrade] - 1.7%; Others - 2.7%; no answer - 13.7%
Would you vote for the coalition SNP-NS-SNS in the state elections?
Yes - 33.1%; No - 58.6%; no opinion - 8.3%
Would you vote for the coalition LSCG-SDP in the state elections?
Yes - 20.5%; NO - 69.1%; no opinion - 10.4%
Would you vote for the coalition DPS-LSCG-SDP in the state elections?
Yes - 46.4%; No - 48.2%; No opinion - 5.4%
Would you vote for the coalition DPS-SDP in the state elections?
Yes - 34.2%; No - 56.2%; No opinion - 9.6%
Which politician do you trust the most?
Milo Djukanovic - 27%; Momir Bulatovic [SNP] - 3%; Zarko Rakcevic [SDP] - 2.7%; Slavko Perovic [LSCG] - 7.2%; Predrag Bulatovic [SNP] - 12%; Zoran Zizic [SNP] - 0.8%; Svetozar Marovic [DPS] - 3.6%; Filip Vujanovic [DPS] - 1.8%; Vojislav Kostunica - 9%; Slobodan Milosevic - 0.6%; Dragan Soc [NS] - 2.6%; Miodrag Zivkovic [LSCG] - 0.7%; Others - 3.7%; None - 5.9%; No answer - 19.3%
Translated on January 29, 2001
