Politics and Media Lost Trust During the Corona Pandemic

52 percent of respondents in a survey by the Unique Research Institute (for the "Pragmaticus") stated that trust in politics was weakened by the pandemic. 35 percent saw it as unaffected. Only 10 percent believed that trust was strengthened, 4 percent did not provide any information. However, 81 percent found the mask requirement "absolutely" or "partially or temporarily" correct.

Austrians See Trust in Politics and Media Weakened by Pandemic

Trust in the media also declined significantly according to the online survey of the Unique Research Institute by opinion researcher Peter Hajek (sample sizes: 800 respondents, survey period 18 December 2024 to 7 January 2025). 44 percent saw trust in "traditional media such as newspapers, television or radio" weakened, for 37 percent it was not affected, for another 14 percent strengthened.

43 percent rated trust in social media as weakened, 36 percent as unaffected and 8 percent as strengthened. In science, the number of those who now see less trust (34 percent) is balanced with those who see trust strengthened (33 percent).

Majority Rates Mask Requirement as Correct

According to this survey, the majority of respondents rated the measures to contain the Corona virus positively - apart from the (though decided, but never implemented and later abolished) vaccination obligation. 49 percent found the mask requirement "absolutely" and 32 percent "partially or temporarily" correct - a total approval of 81 percent. On the other hand, 17 percent rated this measure as "absolutely wrong".

32 percent found the "3G" rules (vaccinated, tested or recovered) "absolutely" correct, 34 percent "partially or temporarily", another 32 percent completely rejected them. The closure of schools and kindergartens also met with predominant approval with 26 percent ("absolutely" correct) and 41 percent ("partially or temporarily"). 29 percent rated these as "absolutely wrong". The approval for the lockdowns was similar: 23 percent saw them as "absolutely correct", 46 percent as "partially or temporarily". "Absolutely wrong" was the lockdown for 28 percent.

Vaccination Obligation Divides Austrians

However, the vaccination obligation showed a significantly different picture: 46 percent thought it was "absolutely wrong". 21 percent rated the obligation as "absolutely correct", "partially or temporarily" it was that for 30 percent.

37 percent saw the much-quoted division of society through Corona "definitely", another 42 percent answered here with "rather yes". Nevertheless, according to the survey, the majority of 53 percent believe that Corona did not influence the election decision in the national council election at all. 19 percent thought that the pandemic had "rather" no influence on voting behavior.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.