The AIM poll: SPAK, corruption, Rama’s reaction

By Eduard Zaloshnja

Yesterday I conducted the AIM electronic survey of adult residents, on behalf of the AIM information company. The survey sample included 1,234 entirely random respondents from across the whole country. The sample was statistically calibrated to represent the country’s adult population as closely as possible in demographic, geographic, educational and political terms. The maximum statistical margin of error was plus/minus 2.8%.

The main question was: “What does the large number of SPAK criminal indictments show about corruption?”

The survey found that over 55% of respondents thought the large number of SPAK criminal indictments shows that corruption has been struck in Albania (see Chart 1). On the other hand, over 43% thought the large number of criminal indictments is an indicator of growing corruption (1.5% were undecided).

Among those who thought corruption has been struck, most were last year’s Socialist voters, but there were also many others who were non-voters or voters of small parties. On the other hand, those who thought the opposite were mostly last year’s PD-ASHM voters, but also voters of some small parties.

CHART 1

Another question in the poll was “What reaction did you want from Prime Minister Rama after the house arrest of Vlora Hyseni?”

The survey found that 40% of respondents thought Prime Minister Rama made the right reaction. While 8% thought Rama should have apologised publicly and almost 8% thought Rama should have resigned as prime minister. On the other hand, over 44% thought he should call early elections (see Chart 2).

Among those who thought the reaction Rama made was the right one, the overwhelming majority were last year’s Socialist voters. Among those who thought Rama should apologise publicly or resign as prime minister, the overwhelming majority were last year’s non-voters. On the other hand, those who wanted early elections had voted last year in their overwhelming majority for PD-ASHM or for small parties.

CHART 2