Gallup: Bulgarians believe in democracy, but do not believe the country is governed by the will of the people

Public perceptions show that democracy retains its image as the best possible governance model in Bulgaria, despite possible shortcomings. Only 13% of Bulgarians believe that the country is governed by the will of the people.

This is according to results of a survey on democracy conducted by the global association Gallup International in 43 countries around the world.

51% of the Bulgarians surveyed perceive democracy as the best possible governance model regardless of possible shortcomings. However, 19% do not agree, and about a quarter of the population in the country are undecided (24%) and neither agree nor disagree. Few cannot answer.

Globally, 59% of respondents say that democracy is the best system of governance for the majority. Only 14% disagreed, and one in five neither agreed nor disagreed.

EU countries seem to most agree that democracy is the best form of governance, despite its flaws (71%). However, these attitudes are more strongly expressed in the western countries of the Union (77%) than in the eastern ones (60%), European countries outside the EU also like democracy, but not with the same confidence (57%). There are, of course, exceptions like, for example, Kosovo - one of the countries on a global scale where people are most confident in democracy as a system of government.

Democracy is approved of around the world, yet in regions such as West Asia, East Asia and Latin America, positive attitudes are not as pronounced - around 50% - in contrast to the West.

The case of Russia is particularly interesting - there only 22% of respondents agree that democracy is the best form of government, while 13% disagree; a third are undecided and another third do not know how to answer.

Is the will of the people respected?

Only 13% of Bulgarians believe that the country is governed by the will of the people. A majority of 61% disagree and 22% are undecided.

Confidence in elections in Bulgaria is also at critical levels - 21% of Bulgarians think they are free and fair, 49% are of the opposite opinion, 20% neither agree nor disagree, and the rest cannot answer.