Christodoulides’ Popularity Takes a Nosedive

Fifty-five per cent of respondents expressed a negative view of his leadership, according to a poll released by Sigma TV.

Only 17 per cent of respondents believe he should be re-elected, while 65 per cent think he should not. A further 18 per cent declined to answer.

This is perhaps the most striking finding of the survey, election analyst Nasios Orinos said.

Orinos highlighted that Christodoulides’ approval rating is notably weak across all political parties, including smaller ones Edek and Dipa which backed him when he ran for president.

“Even within these smaller parties, which have traditionally been more supportive of the president, his acceptance levels remain low,” Orinos said.

Among those who supported Christodoulides in the 2023 presidential election, only 27 per cent believe he should be re-elected, while 48 per cent now oppose a second term.

“This indicates a significant shift in perception, even among his voter base,” Orinos added.

Despite negative approval ratings, the survey found some areas where the president received moderate support.

In foreign policy, 51 per cent expressed satisfaction, while his handling of the Cyprus issue was backed by 36 per cent. However, economic policies, a key concern for many voters, garnered only 37 per cent approval, despite recent upgrades to the country’s credit rating.

“Given the economic improvements and government subsidies, one might have expected better numbers in this area,” Orinos said.

“However, people’s daily experiences with inflation and the cost of living seem to outweigh statistical progress.”

Responding to claims that unfavourable media coverage is a key reason for Christodoulides’ declining popularity, Orinos dismissed this notion. “During the election campaign, he faced strong opposition from many media outlets, yet he still won,” he said.

“It’s not just about media narratives, real-life concerns influence public sentiment far more.”

The survey, conducted by prime consulting between February 20 and 28, recorded the opinions of 1,011 individuals and has a statistical margin of error of 3.1 per cent.

Source: Cyprus Mail