69% of Voters in 27 Countries "Worried About Weakening Democracy"... Top Government Complaint Is Inflation

FGS Global Surveyed Nearly 20,000 Voters in 27 Countries
Disappointment in National Political Systems and Calls for Reform
73% of Respondents Say "Life Will Be Harder for the Next Generation"

The biggest complaint voters have about their governments was found to be "inflation." On January 6 (local time), Yonhap News cited the British daily The Times, reporting that "according to a survey by the American consulting firm FGS Global of 19,767 voters across 27 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, and Canada, more than two-thirds believe their country's political system is disappointing its people and responded that 'fundamental reform is needed.'"

The biggest complaint voters have about their own government is "inflation," according to a survey. A photo of a grocery store to help understand the article. Photo by AP Yonhap News

In this survey, 69% of respondents expressed concern about the weakening of democracy. As many as 40% said there is "no party at all" that truly represents their views and values, and a similar proportion agreed that "a strong leader who can break the rules if necessary is needed to get things done." Notably, 18% of Gen Z respondents in the UK said that "a strong leader who does not have to be bound by elections" would be the most effective system of governance, a higher percentage than among all UK adults (12%).

The younger generation was also found to be less concerned about populist politics than older generations. While 59% of all respondents said "the rise of populism is weakening democracy," only 49% of Gen Z agreed. Additionally, among men under 34, 24% said "populism does not weaken democracy," a higher rate than among women in the same age group (19%).

When asked to name the top five most serious issues facing their countries, respondents most frequently cited inflation and rising living costs. Canada had the highest rate at 73%, followed by the United States and the United Kingdom (65% each), and Japan (59%). In the United States, the European Union (EU), and the United Kingdom, healthcare was cited as the second most serious issue (51%, 49%, and 54%, respectively). Next, immigration was pointed out in the EU and the UK (37% and 49%, respectively), while in the United States, government corruption was the third most cited major issue (42%).

A pessimistic outlook was prevalent, with 73% of respondents saying they believe life will become more difficult for the next generation. This rate was 77% in the UK, EU, and Japan, and relatively lower in the United States at 66%.

Supporters of the far-right German Alternative for Germany (AfD) party gathered in opposition to Muslim immigration. Photo by AP Yonhap News

These survey results come as far-right or populist parties are gaining ground in European countries such as the UK, France, and Germany. In the UK, the center-left ruling Labour Party is trailing the right-wing Reform UK party by 10 percentage points, while in France, the far-right National Rally (RN) has nearly double the support of the ruling party. In Germany, support for the ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has fallen below last year’s general election level, and the party is now trailing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

On this, The Wall Street Journal noted, "In Europe, two phenomena have occurred simultaneously since COVID-19: a surge in immigration and a sharp rise in prices, both of which have increased citizens' hardships." Jeremy Gallow, head of Europe at the consulting firm McLarty Associates, told The Wall Street Journal, "A vicious cycle combining economic stagnation and rapid immigration has driven many voters to turn against mainstream parties," adding, "From small towns in the UK to rural France and villages in Germany, many people feel that traditional elites look down on them or ignore their concerns."