Experts discuss preparations for Moscow mayor elections

Valery Fyodorov, Director General of WCIOM, Oleg Matveychev, a professor of the Higher Economic School, Yevgeny Minchenko, Director of the International Institute for Political Expertise, and Constantine Kalachyov, have discussed preparations for elections of the Moscow mayor.

According to social polls made by telephone calls to 1200 people on August 20-21, 53% of people prioritize the problem of illegal migrants, 40% housing and utilities, 39% traffic jams. 69% of them praised achievements of Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.

Fyodorov said that the most active votes are people aged 60 and older. 50% of them are confident in their decision to vote, 28% are likely to vote.

Kalachyov emphasized that 18% of the people uncertain about the candidates may vote for Navalny or Sobyanin.

Mayveychev said that communist supporters will vote for brand, not personalities. Many were unfamiliar with Melnikov. Matveychev experts over 10% of the population to vote for Melnikov, while Navalny may get up to 20%.

Minchenko noted that even when Navalny had 30% of favor, he did not improve chances for the second round of vote when he would get votes from supporters of other candidates.

Fyodorov said that the protests similar to the ones after the parliamentary elections of December 5, 2011, were unlikely.