Young Europeans lose their faith in democracy, according to a study.

The support is lower in France, Spain and Poland, while 21% support authoritarian governance under certain circumstances, the Guardian notes.

Only half of the young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of governance, while support is even lower among their Polish bonds.

The Greeks see the most intense need for a radical revision of their political system and are more skeptical of the EU, with the trauma of the eurozone debt crisis that has led the country’s economy to the brink of the cliff being active.

The majority of the European generation Z – 57% – prefers democracy to any other form of governance. However, support rates vary significantly, reaching only 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany being the highest with 71%.

One in five prefers authoritarian regimes

More than one in five – 21% – would prefer authoritarian governance under some, unspecified conditions. This figure was higher in Italy with 24% and lower in Germany with 15%. In France, Spain and Poland the percentage was 23%.

Thorsten Faas, a political scientist at the Free University of Berlin, who worked for the study, said: “Among the people who consider themselves politically to the right of the center and feel financially disadvantaged, their support in democracy is sinking to only three.”

“Democracy is under pressure, from inside and from the outside,” he said.

Almost one in 10 in all nations said he was not interested in whether his government is democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not respond.

The study was conducted in April and May. More than 6,700 people aged 16 to 26 in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Poland responded to the ninth annual research of the Yougov Institute on behalf of the TUI Foundation, which funded youth dedicated to youth in Europe.

48% are worried that the democratic system in their country is in danger, including 61% in Germany, where the economy – the largest in Europe – is suffering and the far -right has made significant progress, partially powered by the increased support of new voters.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House, China’s rise and Russia’s full -scale invasion of Ukraine have shifted power away from Europe to the perception of respondents, with only 42% among the EU among the top three world players.

Despite Brexit -or perhaps because of it -the percentage was higher among the British, at 50%. Of those in the United Kingdom, 73% wanted a return to the EU, while almost half of the young Europeans (47%) wanted stronger links between the EU and Britain.

The US was considered by 83% as part of the Trinity of Power, followed by China with 75% and Russia with 57%.

The growing polarization also leads the young Europeans to the ideological margin along with the older ones, but in this process a remarkable gap between the sexes appeared.

Almost one in five – 19% – describes himself as a political center -right, from 14% in 2021, while 33% calls central, 32% left and 16% without any determination.

Most conservative young men in Greece

Women in Germany, France and Italy were determined as progressive to a greater extent than four years ago, while young men in Poland and Greece became more conservative at the same time.

Support for stricter immigration restrictions has increased in all sectors by 2021 to 38% from 26%.

Most young Europeans expressed their hope for the EU’s potential and two out of three supported the overwhelming majority of their country’s stay in the bloc, if it were still existing. However, 39% described the EU as not particularly democratic, and only 6% said that their own national governments are working well, with no need for significant changes.

More than half – 53% – thought that the EU is focusing too much on details and insignificant issues. They would like the block to face high living costs, boost defense against external threats and create better conditions for companies to improve the economy.

Elke Hlawatschek, head of the TUI Foundation, said: “The European plan, which has offered us peace, freedom of movement and economic progress for decades, is considered cumbersome.”

In addition, despite the strongest support for climate protection among young Europeans, only one in three said it should have priority over economic growth. This figure has fallen from 44% in 2021.