AKEL ranks first with 18% in the opinion poll conducted by Prime Consulting Ltd on behalf of SIGMA TV. DISY follows in second place with 17.5%, ELAM is third with 12%, ALMA fourth with 10%, DIKO fifth with 7% and Direct Democracy sixth with 6.5%.
The 3.6% electoral threshold for entry into Parliament is not reached by VOLT (2%), EDEK (2%), the Ecologists’ Movement – Citizens’ Cooperation (1%) and DIPA (1%). A total of 14.5% of respondents declared themselves undecided, while 7.5% did not respond to the voting intention question. All the above percentages refer to valid votes, excluding abstention, which stands at 4%.
Party cohesion
AKEL records the highest cohesion at 72%, followed by ELAM at 67%. DISY’s cohesion reaches 53%, DIKO’s 51%, EDEK’s 34%, the Ecologists’ Movement 24% and DIPA 22%.
Undecided voters
Among those who now declare themselves undecided, 27% voted for DISY in the 2021 parliamentary elections, 13% for AKEL, 6% for EDEK, 5% for DIPA, 4% for the Ecologists’ Movement, 2% for ELAM and 1% for DIKO.
Voter shifts to ALMA and Direct Democracy
The survey records the party origin of voters who now state they will vote for ALMA. The largest share, 14%, comes from DIKO, while 12% come from both DISY and AKEL. EDEK follows with 11%, the Ecologists’ Movement with 9% and ELAM with 3%.
The largest voter outflows to Direct Democracy come from DISY at 14%. Outflows from DIKO and ELAM stand at 11%, and from AKEL at 9%. The corresponding percentage from EDEK and the Ecologists’ Movement reaches 2%.
Certainty of vote
Six in ten respondents declare themselves absolutely or rather certain about how they will vote in the May parliamentary elections (59%), while 35% say they are not very or not at all certain.
Voting motivation
A total of 41% stated they will vote in order to reward a party, while 21% said they will go to the polls to express protest against the party system as a whole. A further 7% will vote to disapprove of a specific party.
Among undecided voters, 32% said they would vote to reward a party, 28% to express protest against the party system overall and 10% to disapprove of a specific party.
Only 52% state that there is a party that represents them to a large extent.
When asked what bothers them most about the way parties operate, 34% cited hypocrisy, 15% populism and 14% clientelism or favouritism.
Fight against corruption
In response to questions about the country’s direction in various sectors, 85% believe the country is heading in the wrong direction in terms of tackling corruption. A total of 76% say the country is on the wrong path regarding crime, while 75% consider the functioning of institutions to be moving in the wrong direction.
A further 64% state that the country is on the wrong track regarding the Cyprus issue. Only international orientation and employment or unemployment receive higher levels of positive responses, at 57% and 52% respectively.
Opinion on the President
A negative opinion of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, was expressed by 57% of respondents, while 33% expressed a positive view.
In addition, 72% said they are not very or not at all satisfied with the President’s overall performance, while 27% declared themselves very or fairly satisfied.
Opinion on party leaders
ALMA leader Odysseas Michaelides ranks first in positive opinion ratings among political leaders with 39%. DISY President Annita Demetriou follows with 37%, AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou with 35%, Ecologists’ Movement President Stavros Papadouris with 27%, ELAM President Christos Christou with 25% and DIKO President Nicolas Papadopoulos with 18%.
In seventh place is MEP Fidias Panayiotou with 17%, while DIPA President Marios Karoyian and EDEK President Nikos Anastasiou both receive 12%. Positive opinion for VOLT co-presidents Andromachi Sophocleous and Panos Parras stands at 10% and 7% respectively.
Fidias Panayiotou ranks first in negative opinion at 76%, followed by Marios Karoyian with 72%, Nicolas Papadopoulos with 66%, Christos Christou with 61%, Annita Demetriou and Stefanos Stefanou jointly at 49%, and Nikos Anastasiou at 43%. Negative opinion for Odysseas Michaelides reaches 42%, followed by Stavros Papadouris at 38%, Andromachi Sophocleous at 33% and Panos Parras at 32%.
Parliament
Regarding Parliament’s performance, 73% say they are not very or not at all satisfied, while 25% say they are very or fairly satisfied.
Asked about the most important issue the new Parliament should address, 35% cite tackling corruption, while 16% point to limiting high prices and migration. The Cyprus issue follows with 7%, the economy with 5%, oversight of banking practices with 4% and housing with 3%.
Public sentiment on politics
Disappointment is the dominant feeling towards politics at 58%. Uncertainty follows with 14%, and anger ranks third at 12%.
Survey details
The opinion poll was conducted nationwide using random stratified sampling between 6 and 14 February. A total of 1,000 interviews were carried out with individuals aged 18 and over who have the right to vote. The statistical margin of error is ±3%.