NEW YORK, June 20 (KUNA) -- The International Peace Institute (IPI) concluded in a new poll released on Monday on public attitudes in Egypt that only 50 percent of the Egyptian population now thinks the country is headed in the right direction, compared to 82 percent last March.
The concern about the economy, disorder, and crime has risen substantially since then, IPI said in a statement released here.
"The poll shows that Egyptians remain hopeful about their future, but optimism is waning as economic and security concerns mount during the transition period," said Terje Rod-Larsen, IPI President.
"In this context of uncertainty, the poll also illustrates a preference for candidates and parties with a longtime presence in Egyptian politics," he added.
As the country heads towards democratic elections, outgoing Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa remains front runner for the November presidential election with 32 percent of voting intentions.
If they run, sitting Prime Minister Essam Sharaf would place second at 16 percent and Marshall Mohammad Tantawi third at eight percent. Opposition leaders Mohammad El Baradei and Ayman Nour get just two percent and three percent of vote intentions respectively.
However, the statement noted, competition is likely to increase as presidential campaigns pick up momentum over the summer.
The two best known and oldest parties - the secular, liberal Wafd and the Islamist, Muslim Brotherhood - still lead in the race for Egypt's parliament, the People's Assembly. The Wafd is favorably viewed by 40 percent and the Muslim brotherhood's by 31 percent.
The New National Party, successor to former president Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party, surprises with 20 percent favorable.
The poll also concluded that US president Barack Obama is viewed favorably by just 12 percent of Egyptians. Newly-named Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahri, a native Egyptian, is rated positively by 11 percent of his compatriots, while only 5percent of them are favorable to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
The poll was conducted by Charney Research for the International Peace Institute. It is based on 800 interviews conducted randomly between May 30 and June 4.
The International Peace Institute is an independent, international think tank located in New York and Vienna, dedicated to the settlement and prevention of armed conflict. Roed-Larsen is also the UN Special envoy for the implementation of resolution 1559 which called on foreign forces, mainly Syrian, in 2004 to leave Lebanon. (end) sj.bs KUNA 202205 Jun 11NNNN