Egyptians feel positive about their future, Gallup poll finds

Jun 6, 2011, 13:52 GMT

Cairo - Egyptians are less satisfied with their standard of living but feel more positive about the future, according to a Gallup poll published on Monday - the first since the revolution that overthrew Hosny Mubarak.

'Egyptians expect a bright political and economic future and they envision a representative government where religious principles guide the democratic process, but with clerics limited to an advisory role,' said the report by Gallup-Abu Dhabi.

Around 1,000 Egyptians aged 15 and above took part in the poll - which aims to track Egypt's transition towards democracy - in various parts of the country, between late March and early April.

Around 53 per cent of those surveyed thought the economic conditions in their city were worsening, compared to 25 per cent the same time last year.

The number of people who said they felt unsafe walking alone almost doubled from last autumn, rising to nearly 40 per cent.

This could result from the presence of fewer police officers on the streets, as well as a perceived drop in effectiveness, following the uprising earlier this year.

However, the report noted a 'slight decline' in the percentage of Egyptians reporting incidences of theft and assault.

'This could be the result of greater civic engagement, which studies suggest is associated with lower crime rates,' the report said.

Mubarak resigned after 30 years of power on February 11, after mass protests shook the country for weeks. Since then, the military has been in charge along with a caretaker cabinet, with parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in September.

Respondents were asked to predict where their life will be in five years' time, using a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 representing the worst possible life and 10 the best.

'Egyptians forecast that, five years from now, their lives will be an average of 5.7 on the life evaluation scale, up from their 4.9 rating in the fall of 2010,' the report found.

Nine out of 10 expected presidential elections - slated for 2012 - to be free and fair.

Almost 70 per cent of respondents said religious leaders should be limited to an advisory role regarding legislation.

The poll found that 75 per cent opposed US funding to Egyptian political groups.

Egypt is a long-time ally of the US, and has received significant amounts of US military aid since its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.

However, 68 per cent said their position towards the US would significantly improve if the US pressured Israel to halt Israeli settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.