Results of a recent poll indicate that society still regards state institutions whose members wear uniforms as the most trustworthy while institutions with suit-wearing members are at the bottom of the confidence index.
The survey, ordered by the Consumer Protection Board and conducted in June and December by Turu-uuringute AS, found that in the last six months, trust in the Prime Minister, Parliament and Cabinet has fallen.
Combining the poll's “full confidence” and “mostly trust” categories, the Rescue Board came in at 95 percent, slightly down from 96 in June. Second and third were police and defense forces with 83 and 81 percent respectively, both losing two percentage points since June.
Estonian Public Broadcasting came in fifth with 79 percent (81 percent in June), just behind the tax men at the Tax and Customs Board who had a 80 percent (78 percent) trust rating.
The Church lost five percent during the six months and is down to 56 percent. Others who plummeted in the confidence poll were NATO and the President, both losing 4 percent and now down to 61 and 65 percent, respectively.
However, the Prime Minister suffered the biggest fall from relative grace – down seven percent with only 33 percent of respondents having confidence in Andrus Ansip.
Political parties and trade unions gained the most trust in what was an otherwise confidence depleting six month period. Both gained three percentage points, up to 25 and 49, respectively.
Political parties came in last in the index, with the Prime Minister, Parliament
(37 percent trust in December), Cabinet (40 percent), trade unions and non-governmental organizations (both with 49 percent) rounding out the bottom of the list.
The Bank of Estonia, Consumer Protection Board, Defense League, the Justice Chancellor, private broadcasting networks, municipalities, National Audit Office, printed press and courts enjoyed a trust rating between 74 and 62 percent with little chance in the last half year. Trust in the European Union remained a little above 50 percent.