Only 9% of Cypriots Believe the Country Is on the Right Track
74% of respondents say they are dissatisfied with how President Nikos Christodoulides is performing his duties.
7 months before Cyprus heads to the polls for the 2026 parliamentary elections, a new RIK poll conducted by MRC Cypronetwork reveals an increasingly fluid and unpredictable political scene — with DISY and AKEL locked in a dead heat at 17% each, while smaller movements reshape the map.
According to the survey, far right ELAM secures 11.5%, placing third, followed by DIKO at 7.5% and Odysseas Michaelides’ “ALMA” at 6%.
The new party “Direct Democracy” of MEP Fidias Panayiotou is the surprise entry, gaining 4.5% and comfortably crossing the parliamentary threshold.
Parties such as EDEK (2.5%), Greens (2%), Volt (2%), Hunters’ Movement (1.5%), DIPA (1%), and the Animal Party (1%) fail to secure representation.
Meanwhile, 14% of voters remain undecided, while abstention is estimated at 6.5% — effectively making the undecided bloc the “third party” in the race.
The poll paints a bleak picture of public trust in political institutions. 74% of respondents say they are dissatisfied with how President Nikos Christodoulides is performing his duties, while only 23% express satisfaction. On handling of the Cyprus problem, 70% disapprove, and 76% disapprove of his domestic governance.
Dissatisfaction extends to the opposition (81%) and Parliament (79%), signaling widespread frustration across the political spectrum.
Equally worrying for the government, 62% of respondents believe Cyprus is moving in the wrong direction, while a mere 9% think it is on the right track.
When asked about the most important national problems, citizens placed corruption first (28%), followed by cost of living (24%), and the Cyprus issue/Turkey relations (13%). The migration issue, previously seen as dominant, has now dropped to fourth place with 10%, while the economy was cited by 8% of respondents.
Interest in the upcoming election is relatively strong, with 63–64% stating they intend to vote.
The MRC Cypronetwork poll for Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 1,422 adults aged 18 and over.
