Unemployment most critical problem for majority of Yerevan residents: poll

YEREVAN, April 29. /ARKA/. Fifty-nine percent of Yerevan residents said unemployment is the most critical problem in the city, according to a poll conducted by GALLUP International Association Armenian office.

Ahead of the city council elections, the office interviewed 1,066 legal adults in Yerevan from April 18 to April 21.

The city council elections are scheduled for May 5. The city mayor is elected by the council consisting of 65 members. Under the legislation, candidates are to be nominated by the factions involved in the council.

Mission, Prosperous Armenia, Armenian National Congress, Orinats Yerkir, Republican Party of Armenia, Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutiun and “Hello, Yerevan” bloc of parties have registered for the elections.

Some 59% of respondents said unemployment is a common problem in Yerevan. The second comes inflation considered critical by 31% of interviewees. Corruption is considered the most important problem by 13% of respondents. 12% of interviewees said migration is the most critical issue of the capital. Another 12% said it is the poor state of the educational system, head of GIA Armenian office Aram Navasardyan said.

Among the municipal problems respondents mentioned poor state of medical institutions (8%), high taxes (7%), low pensions (3%), poor social status (2%) and low salaries (2%).

Transport is the main problem for 22% of respondents, ecology for 20%, garbage disposal for another 20%, paying against public services for 10%, emergencies for 4%, crimes and road conditions for 3% each and poor building conditions for 1%. 

Navasardyan also said that 52% of respondents want the municipality to expand green areas, some 36% expect expanding playgrounds, another 36% want more cultural events, 27% expect more sports events and 2% point to the necessity to increase jobs.

When asked which fields need to be developed in Yerevan 26% of interviewees said public health, 23% said education, 15% transport, 14% employment, another 14% said culture, 13% industries, 9% economy and 7% social sector.  Respondents were asked to pick several answers.

Navasardyan said in general respondents appreciated the work done by the current mayor of Yerevan Taron Margaryan. At the same time, interviewees are not satisfied with performance of the municipality.  -0-