Latvia's population is sure that the protests are likely to reach their preferred government decision-making, since last year has been reduced, shows public opinion research center SKDS July survey results.

Slightly less than half of Latvia's population (47%) believes that by participating in the protests are likely to influence government decision-making (in November last year - 55%). Equally large population (47%) believe that participation in the protest did not affect the (November last year - 37%). However, fully agrees with the possibility to influence the government to only 14% of the population, completely disagree - 15%.

Confident about the possibility of industrial action to influence the Government had people from 18 to 24 years of age and fewer older people. Confident about the possibilities influences the Government had also contributors to secondary education, less - Respondents with higher education. Less confident about the possibility of industrial action to influence government decisions was the Russian residents of Latvia, and were skeptical of those living in rural areas.

SKDS director Arnis Kaktiņš Day said that is an interesting activity in the population growth in November 2007, resigned as a result Aigars Kalvitis (TA) to the government. "It left quite an impression on public opinion, the later is already more than half the population expressed the view that industrial action is meaningful," said A. Kaktiņš. Although the then 'optimism had low ", sociologist, believes that there is more than in the period from 2002. until 2007.

SKDS director, however, predicted that "it is unlikely that the August 2008 referendum on constitutional amendments could raise people's beliefs about whether such activities are meaningful." A. Kaktiņš this idea is justified by the fact that the referendum was not achieved "tangible results". He also added that the inactivity of one's fault it is based on the "tangible results" achieved by the protests may be fairly rare, the practice only in exceptional cases, as was the summer of 2007. In his words, the protests in Latvia already low and they are usually more quiet and inconclusive. " "If not even the modicum which failed to materialize, the question arises - where it makes sense," said A. Kaktiņš.

Also, the Baltic Institute of Social Sciences, Director, Brigita Zepa sociologist believes that the confidence that the company can achieve something, it is dependent on experience. "People need confidence in a positive experience, 'says B. Zepa. In her words, "umbrella revolution" was forced to depart the government, however, the further operation of the public were not satisfied, in fact, the new government continued the previous rate. "It is quite logical that does not produce a positive experience," said B. Zepa. She also pointed out that eleven years ago - in 1997's survey - only about 20% of people believed that with the active participation in the protest can achieve something. Sociologist believes that it Latvia gone towards the deepening of democracy and civil society - the possibility of identifying the direction.

In turn, A. Kaktiņš pointed out that since 2000, people's confidence about the possibility of influencing the government, participating in protests, constantly decreased, and in mid-2006, only every third resident of Latvia was convinced of the effectiveness of the protests.

Information from Diena.lv