A new study shows Cyprus is one of the ten European countries with the most xenophobia. Xenophobia means dislike of people from other countries. The study also found people in Cyprus do not trust their own government much. This has been happening for twenty years. People in Cyprus like democracy, but they are not happy with how it works there.
Researchers looked at information from a large survey. This survey asked people in over thirty European countries about their opinions. The survey was done in the parts of Cyprus controlled by the government. The next part of the survey will start in late 2025. They used a careful method to get honest answers from many people.
The results show a worrying situation. Cyprus is in the top ten for xenophobic feelings. Also, people do not trust politicians in Cyprus. Trust in local politicians and parties has been very low since 2006. However, people trust organizations like the European Parliament more than their own parliament. Some researchers see a small increase in trust for politicians. This might be because new political groups have started.
A big problem is the difference between what people believe and what happens. Cypriots believe strongly in democracy. However, they think democracy in their country does not work well. This is a big gap. It means people believe in democracy but feel far from its results.
These findings are important for society. Xenophobia makes it hard for people from different countries to live together. Low trust in politics weakens the government. The University of Cyprus says this survey is important. They ask people to take part in the next survey. Good information helps make better plans for the future.
The survey helps understand how people's views change. It compares Cyprus to other European countries. The results show where attention is needed. It is important to connect people with the government.