Majority of Romanians Slightly or Barely Support Democratic Systems, Aligning with Europe's General Trend
In a concerning development, a new poll by European Movement International and Savanta has revealed that fewer Europeans are consistently supporting democracy. The survey, which included 3,500 people in seven of the largest EU countries, including Romania, shows that only 36% of Europeans are consistent supporters of democracy.
This decline in democratic support, including in Romania, arises from multidimensional issues. Unmet democratic expectations, political polarization intensified by migration debates, economic insecurities, and eroding trust in democratic leaders and institutions are some of the key reasons highlighted by the study.
One of the significant concerns is the disenchantment with political systems. Many young Europeans feel the current political system is not working well. Only a small minority (about 6%) believe their political system functions well without needing change, while about one-third think substantial reforms are necessary.
Support for authoritarian alternatives is another worrying trend. Around 21% of young Europeans express some degree of support for authoritarianism, with figures peaking at 24% in Italy. This shift by parts of the population toward preferring strong, less democratic governance options amid dissatisfaction with existing democracies is a cause for concern.
Migration-related debates have fueled political polarization, contributing to skepticism about democratic governance and increasing demands for tougher immigration controls. Support for such measures has risen from 26% to 38% since 2021, which may alienate some from democratic ideals.
Economic and social anxieties also play a significant role in the decline of democratic support. Among those feeling economically disadvantaged or politically aligned to the right, support for democracy dips substantially, with as few as one in three backing democracy.
The perception of democracy being endangered is another factor fueling doubts about the resilience and legitimacy of democratic institutions. Nearly half of young Europeans (48%) fear their democracy is under threat.
Declining confidence in the U.S. and shifting global power dynamics also affect Europeans’ outlook on democracy. Favorability of key democratic leaders has fallen, with confidence in figures like Donald Trump and institutions such as the EU waning, contributing to overall skepticism about democratic governance.
However, the study does show sizable backing for European cooperation, including support for Ukraine and partnerships on defense. Romania, for instance, is among the countries with the strongest support for European cooperation, with 71% of Romanians prioritizing global peace and prosperity over domestic concerns, the highest score among all countries.
Simultaneously, 68% of Romanians prefer to avoid international affairs and focus on domestic priorities. This paradoxical trend is reflected in other countries as well, such as Spain, where only one in four consistently voiced support for democracy, according to the poll.
While democratic values are the strongest in Sweden, where 52% value democracy, according to the poll, Romania is among the countries with the lowest support for democracy. In all other countries, less than half of the population favors democracy consistently. Poland, after Romania, has the second-highest percentage of people who believe that EU membership brought net benefits to them personally and the country as a whole.
The survey reveals a strong support for European cooperation among the Romanian population, but it also shows that the remaining 64% are inconsistent supporters of democracy, and more likely to prefer a stronger leader. Almost half of those surveyed want to see the EU integrate its militaries to respond to growing threats from countries such as Russia.
Petros Fassoulas, secretary-general of the European Movement, expressed concern about the low percentage of consistent support for democracy in Europe. He emphasized the need for reforms to address the concerns of the European populace and to strengthen democratic institutions. The study also includes backing for partnerships to tackle disinformation, another crucial step towards bolstering democratic values in Europe.
- The study indicates that general-news such as unmet democratic expectations, political polarization, economic insecurities, and eroding trust in democratic leaders and institutions are significant reasons for the decline in European support for politics.
- Among the worrisome trends highlighted in the survey is the increasing support for authoritarian alternatives within the politics sphere, with approximately 21% of young Europeans expressing some degree of support for authoritarianism.
