Political Survey: Satisfaction Increases, But It Decreases Among the Poorer

After a low in 2022 due to the Corona pandemic, the outbreak of the Ukraine war, and high inflation, 43 percent now believe that the political system in Austria works well. Two years ago, it was only 34 percent. However, the gap between rich and poor is as large as ever, according to the Democracy Monitor by Foresight.

While 60 percent of people in the upper and 48 percent in the middle income third believe that our political system works well, only one in five in the lower third (21 percent) share this view. Thus, satisfaction in the upper and middle third is rising for the second year in a row. In the lower income third, however, it has been in decline since 2020, when 43 percent still rated the functioning as very good or quite good.

Experience of Lack of Representation

"The gap in the evaluation of the political system is widening along financial lines," analysed Martina Zandonella from Foresight at a press conference on Wednesday. The reason for this is the experience of lack of representation. Currently, 56 percent of people in the upper and 41 percent in the middle third believe that they are well represented in parliament, in the lower third it is only 19 percent. At the same time, the proportion of non-voters in this group is high.

Doubts about democratic participation have grown among the entire population in recent years: while in 2018 the majority (61) still felt well represented in parliament, it is currently just over a third (36 percent). The national election in September did not change this.

The Chamber of Labour saw a mandate for politics in the results. "Even the lower income groups must find themselves more strongly represented in politics and in the National Council," said AK Director Silvia Hruška-Frank in a statement, calling for an expansion of internal participation and the establishment of a democratic everyday and working culture.

Survey: Attitude Towards Democracy Remains Consistently High

Overall, trust in the rules and practices of democracy remains comparatively high and stable across the entire population. The vast majority trust institutions such as the Constitutional Court (77 percent), the police (75), the judiciary (66), and the administration (62). People's attitude towards democracy in general also remains stable. 90 percent believe that democracy - despite some problems - is the best form of government.

The opposing view, that there should be a strong leader who does not have to worry about parliament and elections, is held by around 20 percent - this value has also remained relatively stable over the past years, with the exception of a rise in 2022 according to the Democracy Monitor.

Radicalisation Tendencies in a Small Group

Anti-democratic attitudes across all questions were found in eight percent of respondents. Although this value also remained relatively constant over the years, there has been a radicalisation within the group since 2021. For the fourth time in a row, a third of these 8 percent demanded that the rights of parliament, independence of the judiciary and freedom of assembly, as well as the independence of the media, be restricted; before 2021, there were only half as many.

The Democracy Monitor has been conducted since 2018. This year, the survey took place between October 25 and November 22. 2,007 people aged 16 and over were surveyed using telephone and online interviews, half of whom were also surveyed between August 6 and 28.

(APA/Red)

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