Democracy Without Trust: Cyprus's Defining Challenge

By Kritonas Kapsalis Twenty-first century democracy faces a paradox. Never before have citizens had so many opportunities to express opinions, access information, organise collectively and publicly scrutinise those in power. Yet rarely has there been such a strong sense that individual voices are lost within a political system that many people feel unable to influence. In Cyprus, this contradiction is particularly evident. According to the Autumn 2025 Eurobarometer, 67% of Cypriots said they were dissatisfied with the way democracy functions in the country, while 66% felt their views did not count. At the same time, voter turnout in the May 2026 parliamentary elections reached 66.4%, an increase compared with 2021. The problem, therefore, is not simply political apathy. Many citizens continue to participate, yet do not feel that their participation translates into genuine influence. The vote is not enough Democracy cannot be reduced to the ability to choose representatives every five years. Elections are the foundation of the system, but they are not the system in its entirety. Today's citizens expect greater accountability between elections, transparency in decision-making, access to information and meaningful opportunities to intervene in public affairs. In a small country such as Cyprus, this should in theory be easier. The distance between citizens and politicians is smaller and society more tightly connected. Yet this same proximity can become problematic when the relationship between the citizen and the state turns into one based on personal connections, party mediation or favours. When citizens believe they need to know "the right person" to solve a problem, democracy is weakened, even if electoral procedures function normally. The citizen becomes a customer who is always right, while the politician becomes a neighbourhood shopkeeper. Corruption and trust in institutions This is why the fight against corruption is inseparable from the quality of democracy itself. In the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, Cyprus scored 55 out of 100 and ranked 49th among 182 countries. Beyond international rankings, however, the key issue is how citizens feel when serious cases remain unresolved for years or when the perception emerges that different rules apply to the powerful and different rules to everyone else. Democracy is built on the vote, but it survives through trust. Without confidence that institutions operate independently and that the law is applied equally, distrust gradually evolves into disillusionment. The digital-age threat A second major challenge comes from technology. Political debate in Cyprus has increasingly shifted to social media. This has enabled politicians, journalists and citizens to communicate directly with thousands of people without the mediation of traditional media. At the same time, however, it has created new risks. During the 2026 election campaign, hundreds of paid political advertisements linked to anonymous campaigns were recorded, without it always being clear who was behind the messages reaching voters. Artificial intelligence further intensifies the problem. Convincing fake images, voices and videos can now be created with relative ease. In a small society, where a single social media post can dominate public discussion within hours, the potential for manipulation is enormous. The response cannot be censorship. It must instead include greater transparency in political advertising, disclosure of campaign financing, stronger independent journalism and improved public education on how to assess information critically. Policies beyond the next election Another challenge concerns democracy's ability to plan for the long term. Water scarcity, wildfires, climate change, energy security, demographics, housing and education cannot be addressed with the horizon of a single electoral term. The decisions required today may only produce results ten or twenty years from now. This is a structural challenge for democratic systems. Governments are judged at the next election, while meaningful reforms take time. Preventing major wildfires, developing water infrastructure or implementing substantial education reforms do not always generate immediate political rewards. Cyprus therefore needs greater continuity and broader consensus on strategic issues, ensuring that every change of government does not result in policy being restarted from scratch. Everyday life is also democracy The quality of democracy is not measured solely through institutions. It is also reflected in everyday life. The cost of living, housing, wages and economic insecurity directly influence how citizens perceive the political system. When a young person works full-time but struggles to secure housing, or when a family sees income failing to keep pace with living costs, economic frustration can quickly become political distrust. This is when "easy solutions" emerge: promises that a strong leader can bypass procedures, checks and institutions in order to impose rapid decisions. Such temptations are testing many democracies today and help explain the rise of far-right parties across a number of countries. The Cyprus issue and a new agenda Cyprus also faces a unique challenge. For more than half a century, the Cyprus problem has understandably occupied the centre of political life. Yet a modern democracy must simultaneously address the concerns of younger generations, technological change, climate pressures, inequality and the new forms of power emerging within the digital economy. The key question is therefore not whether the Republic of Cyprus is in danger of collapse. The real question is whether it can become stronger before public distrust becomes entrenched. The answer lies in stronger oversight institutions, greater transparency, independent journalism, meaningful public consultation and more citizen participation before major decisions are taken. Because the greatest threat to democracy is not always someone seeking to abolish it. Sometimes it is a citizen who still votes, but no longer believes that either the vote or their voice can truly make a difference.