Cypriots have low social trust, are generally disenchanted with politics and politicians, while a significant segment are unsatisfied with their life, according to a survey released on Thursday.

The research by the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) was carried out between March 10 and 26, gauging public sentiment ahead of the May legislative elections.

It polled 1,402 people, aged 18 and above.

Titled ‘Political Culture and Voting Behaviour’, the survey found a general disaffection with politics, angst about world developments and quality of life, and an ideological crisis of identity among voters.

As far as voting intent goes, 18 per cent of respondents said they’d vote for Disy in the upcoming parliamentary ballot. Akel got the same percentage.

Elam was in third place with 11.5 per cent, trailed by Diko at 7.5 per cent.

There followed the new Alma party at 7.5 per cent, and Direct Democracy at 5.5 per cent.

Regarding how they tend to vote, 29 per cent of respondents said they “vote like the rest of my family”, while 44 per cent stated they “always vote for the same party”.

People were asked to rate the parties in terms of twelve concepts or values: country, Europe, reform, justice, human rights, family, religion, equality, liberty, meritocracy, transparency, and modernisation.

The results showed that none of the parties dominated in any of the twelve concepts listed.

According to the commentary accompanying the survey, this reveals that “the majority, if not all of the political parties face to a lesser or greater extent an ideological identity crisis.”

In response to another question – ‘life satisfaction’ – 61 per cent of respondents said they are satisfied, while 39 per cent are not.

Here, the differences among age groups were negligible – indicating that disaffection cuts through the entirety of society.

On another issue, social trust – “Can you trust most people or not” – just 12 per cent said they can.

Satisfaction with the quality of democracy was expressed by just 26 per cent of respondents. Meantime 68 per cent said they’re unsatisfied with the quality of democracy – compared to 77 per cent back in 2021.

Asked what is more important – law and order or safeguarding civil liberties – public opinion was split: 45 per cent picked the former, 40 per cent the latter.

Respondents were also asked about the dispatch of Greek naval frigates and fighter jets to Cyprus amid the Persian Gulf crisis. The question tied this to the perceived re-emergence of the ‘unified defence doctrine’ between Cyprus and Greece.

Sixty-two per cent said they’re in favour of the ‘unified defence doctrine’, 12 per cent are against, and 19 per cent had no opinion.

On another issue relating to sense of security, and concerning the British bases on Cyprus, 56 per cent of respondents want the bases gone, with just 38 per cent holding the opposite view.

In 2024, a similar survey had found that 50 per cent of Cypriots wanted the British bases to remain.

Regarding the ongoing war in the Gulf, an overwhelming majority – 92 per cent – feel it will adversely affect the economy.

This is even higher than expectations of adverse consequences previously recorded in relation to the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine.

On the government’s handling of the fallout from the conflict in the Gulf, 43 per cent of respondents gave the administration the thumbs-up while 52 per cent said they are not satisfied.

By comparison, only 24 per cent are satisfied with President Nikos Christodoulides’ handling of the Cyprus problem, and just 19 per cent are satisfied with the handling of domestic affairs.