The deficit of political ethics is undoubtedly a sad reality for our country. The resulting crisis of trust in institutions is well documented in annual surveys based on opinion polls. Yet, instead of prompting reflection, these findings leave some people coldly indifferent while others submit to a distorted mirror of the flawed political system. In both cases, we encounter a deeply wounded society striving in one way or another to survive.
Focusing on the humiliatingly low quality of political discourse which for decades has fostered trivial verbal clashes and sharp confrontations that drive polarisation, we observe that the ethical standards of public discourse as expressed by our leaders have influenced and shaped our everyday behaviour.
Posts on social media platforms where written communication often mirrors spoken language reflect a disregard not only for institutions but also for fellow citizens. Ironical, rude, offensive and abusive comments, extreme statements and demeaning labels reveal the depth of societal toxicity.
Ahead of parliamentary elections which provide a vehicle for new aspiring politicians to enter the spotlight, many compatriots attempt to stand out through rhetoric which differs little from the discourse of the old party system. They claim to bring novelty and integrity to public life yet in practice they reinforce cynicism.
By using the “rage-bait” tactic highlighted as word of 2025 by the Oxford English Dictionary, a method on social networks designed to deliberately provoke anger, they encourage extreme criticism and violate the unwritten rules of political ethics they claim to wish to establish.
Freedom of expression is neither synonymous with the humiliation of a political figure however much we may disagree with their positions or actions, nor with extreme confrontations. If the new politicians entering the Cypriot system genuinely aim to challenge old party practices, their first duty must be to show respect. Public discourse rooted in reasoned arguments fosters dialogue which is the cornerstone of a democratic society and strengthens citizens’ trust in institutions.