A new study published Monday suggests that Europeans are becoming increasingly disillusioned with democracy.
Just 36 percent of people surveyed are consistent supporters of democracy — valuing the right to vote and recognizing the importance of checks and balances — according to the survey by the European Movement, a campaign group pushing for closer integration and more robust institutions across the bloc.
The remaining 64 percent of people — more than 3,500 were polled in seven of the largest EU countries — said they are inconsistent supporters of democracy, and more likely to say they prefer a stronger leader, up from previous years.The study found that democratic values are the strongest in Sweden, where 52 percent value democracy. In all other countries, less than half of the population favor consistent democracy, falling as low as 30 percent in France and Romania. In Spain, only one in four consistently voiced support for democracy.“The low percentage of consistent support for democracy is truly worrying,” Petros Fassoulas, secretary-general of the European Movement, told POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook.
“It does not mean though that our fellow citizens are anti-democratic. But they are disappointed, disempowered, and disillusioned; the very things that sow the seeds of authoritarianism,” he added. The results are in line with increasing support for populist and far-right parties across the continent, as demonstrated by the results of the European Parliament election last year, which delivered a blow to mainstream parties in France and Germany in particular.
However, at the same time, the study revealed sizable backing for European cooperation, including support for Ukraine and partnerships on defense and tackling disinformation. Almost half of all those surveyed said they wanted to see the EU integrate its militaries to respond to growing threats from countries such as Russia.
“The data shows that it is perhaps time that political elites in Brussels, Paris, Berlin and beyond wake up to the fact that more people than they thought want an EU army,” said Fassoulas.
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