The majority of citizens view Nikos Christodoulides and his work negatively, nearly four years after his election as President of the country, according to a new poll conducted by Rai Consultants and published by “Alpha tis Kyriakis.”
Sixty-four percent of respondents say they are dissatisfied with the way the President of the Republic is performing his duties, while only 35% express satisfaction.
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The resounding defeat of unbridled audacity
The overall picture for the government is similar, with the dissatisfaction rate reaching 65%.
“What matters, based on past polls in Cyprus as well as experience in other countries, a negative perception of a president and a government does not necessarily translate into a negative vote in elections. And we will see this very clearly in the polls to be released next week. At the same time, it is important that voting decisions take into account both the environment in which a president governs and the starting point at the beginning of a term, but also who the President’s opponent will be. It is important to note that prior to the elections for Nicos Anastasiades’s second term, his approval ratings were significantly higher, ranging from 45 to 50 percent, but we must acknowledge that Mr. Anastasiades began his term with an economy that was nearly in ruins and, at the same time, a much more favorable geopolitical environment.”
Olympios Toumazos – Chairman of the Board, Rai Consultants Ltd
Pessimism appears to prevail regarding the direction the country is heading, as 59% believe it is the wrong one, compared to 21% of respondents who believe it is the right one.
SEE ALSO: RAI POLL: Citizens Evaluate the President and His Work
Assessment by Sector
Nikos Christodoulides’s strongest suit is confirmed to be foreign policy, with 5 out of 10 respondents expressing satisfaction. On the other hand, the assessment of domestic policy is largely negative, as the satisfaction rate stands at 29%.
The health sector receives the most positive ratings, with 46% of respondents expressing satisfaction and 54% dissatisfaction. This is followed by immigration, with a satisfaction rate of 37%; the Cyprus issue, at 32%; public safety, the economy, and education, while meritocracy and the fight against corruption rank last, with only 17% giving the government a positive rating for its handling of these issues.
Political Affiliation
Satisfaction levels vary depending on political affiliation. Citizens who voted for AKEL in the last parliamentary elections mainly view the President negatively, with only 15% expressing satisfaction, while among ALMA voters, this percentage rises to 24%. Among voters for the coalition partner DIKO, 52% express satisfaction; among DISY voters, 47% of those surveyed express a positive opinion; and among ELAM voters, 51%.
SEE ALSO: How is the political landscape shaping up?
Political Landscape
The political landscape shows no significant changes from the results of last May’s election. If parliamentary elections were held this coming Sunday, 17% of respondents would vote for DISY, with the party maintaining its lead, while AKEL follows close behind with 16%. ELAM remains in third place with 10%, followed by DIKO with 7%, ALMA and Direct Democracy at 4%, VOLT and EDEK at 3% and 2% respectively, while the Ecologists’ Movement and the Hunters’ Party each receive 1%.
In terms of voter loyalty, ELAM appears to be the most resilient, with 86% of voters stating they would vote for it again, followed by AKEL with 76% loyalty, ALMA at 70%, and DIKO at 69%. Lower still, at 68%, is voter loyalty to DISY, while for Direct Democracy it stands at 58%.
See the report by Rafaella Stavrinou
