Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds
Only half of young people in France and Spain believe that democracy is the best form of government, with support even lower among their Polish counterparts, a study has found,A majority from Europe’s generation Z – 57% – prefer democracy to any other form of government,Rates of support varied significantly, however, reaching just 48% in Poland and only about 51-52% in Spain and France, with Germany highest at 71%,More than one in five – 21% – would favour authoritarian rule under certain, unspecified circumstances,This was highest in Italy at 24% and lowest in Germany with 15%.
In France, Spain and Poland the figure was 23%.Nearly one in 10 across the nations said they did not care whether their government was democratic or not, while another 14% did not know or did not answer.Thorsten Faas, a political scientist at Berlin’s Free University, who worked on the study, said: “Among people who see themselves as politically to the right of centre and feel economically disadvantaged, their support of democracy sinks to just one in three.“Democracy is under pressure, from within and without.”The study was carried out in April and May.
More than 6,700 people between the ages of 16 and 26 in Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Greece and Poland responded to the ninth annual survey by the YouGov institute for the Tui Foundation, which funds projects dedicated to youth in Europe.Forty-eight per cent worry that the democratic system in their own country is endangered, including 61% in Germany, where the economy – Europe’s biggest – is ailing and the far right has made significant inroads, fuelled in part by increased backing from young voters.The return of Donald Trump to the White House, the rise of China, and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have shifted power away from Europe in the respondents’ perception, with just 42% counting the EU among the top three global players.Despite – or perhaps because of – Brexit, the figure was highest among Britons at 50%.Of those surveyed in the UK, 73% wanted a return to the EU, while nearly half of young Europeans (47%) sought stronger ties between the EU and Britain.
The US was seen by 83% as part of the power trio, followed by China with 75% and Russia on 57%.Rising polarisation is also driving young Europeans to the ideological fringes along with their elders, but a notable gender divide has emerged in the process.Nearly one in five – 19% – described themselves as politically right of centre, up from 14% in 2021, while 33% called themselves centrists, 32% as leftist and 16% without any designation.Women in Germany, France and Italy identified as progressive in higher numbers than four years ago, while young men in Poland and Greece have grown more conservative in the same period.Support for tougher restrictions on migration has grown across the board since 2021, to 38% from 26%.
Most young Europeans expressed hope in the EU’s potential, and two in three overwhelmingly supported their country remaining in the bloc if it still was.But 39% described the EU as not particularly democratic and just 6% said their own national governments worked well, with little need for significant changes.More than half – 53% – felt the EU was too focused on details and trivial matters.They would like the bloc to tackle the high cost of living, bolster defence against external threats and create better conditions for companies to improve the economy.Elke Hlawatschek, the head of the Tui Foundation, said: “The European project, which has brought us peace, freedom of movement and economic progress for decades, is seen as unwieldy.
”Greek people see the strongest need for fundamental overhaul of their political system and are most sceptical about the EU, which Faas described as rooted in enduring trauma of the eurozone debt crisis that drove their country’s economy to the brink.Despite stronger support for climate protection among young Europeans, just one in three said it should take priority over economic growth.The figure has slipped from 44% in 2021.
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Here’s Raf’s report of a rollercoaster game:That’s all from me this evening, thanks for tuning in and goodnight.England dropped six catches and collapsed dramatically with the bat but they somehow got the job done. The series stands at 2-1 and the teams head to Manchester on Wednesday for the fourth of this five match series.Here’s stand in captain Tammy Beaumont with the final words:I think that’s what you live for in cricket. As captain, those are the moments you live for
Lauren Filer leads fightback as England beat India to keep series alive
When Nat Sciver-Brunt was named as England captain in April, her teammate Tammy Beaumont might have had cause to feel slight disappointment at being overlooked, given her own success at the helm of Welsh Fire.But at the Oval on Friday evening, with Sciver-Brunt out of the third Twenty20 international against India due to a groin injury, Beaumont finally got the chance to lead the side, and managed a feat that has so far eluded Sciver-Brunt – a win against India, albeit by the skin of their teeth.India had looked to be racing to victory after Shafali Verma smashed 47 from 25 balls and Smriti Mandhana glided her way to a half-century, but after Mandhana top-edged Lauren Filer to mid-on in the 16th over England fought back at the death to seal a narrow five-run win.“Tammy was outstanding today,” her teammate Sophia Dunkley said. “She was really strong with us about backing ourselves and staying in the fight
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England face a battle against both India’s batters and their own bodies as they attempt to keep their opponents’ lead under control on the fourth day at Edgbaston, with Harry Brook – who has spent fewer than 15 of the 253.3 overs so far bowled off the field – describing fatigue unlike any he has experienced in his career as he put together the 303-run partnership with Jamie Smith that rescued the team’s first innings.Brook had scored 157 when he was struck by cramp that ran down “the whole right side” of his body, and added only one more run before he was dismissed by Akash Deep soon after the second new ball had been taken. That precipitated a collapse as England slumped from 387 for five to 407 all out.“I’ve never had it before,” Brook said of the cramping
Hothouse kid Jamie Smith starts as he goes on and changes Test in 20 minutes | Andy Bull
It started in the worst possible way. By the second over of the day England were 84 for five, five hundred runs and a thousand miles behind. Their best batter, Joe Root had just been caught off the ninth ball of the morning, and their captain, Ben Stokes, who has worked so many miracles for them before, had been caught off the 10th, done by a wicked, lifting delivery, nasty, brutish and short, which brushed off his glove on its way through to the keeper.The bowler, Mohammad Siraj, was on a hat-trick, and here comes England’s No 7, Jamie Smith, 24 years old, playing his 19th Test innings.The field was set, the slips were waiting, the crowd was up
England v India: second men’s cricket Test, day three – as it happened
Ali Martin’s report is here so it’s time for me to call it a day. India should still win this but the magic of Stokes’ team keeps you believing in all four results. I hope tomorrow’s another special one.I imagine India won’t be satisfied with setting England anything other than a world-record target. But there’s also the question of time – do they even bother with a declaration tomorrow? Or do they try and get to the fifth morning and toy with England’s distaste of the draw?A reminder that the highest Test score by an England wicketkeeper still belongs to Betty Snowball for her 189 against New Zealand 90 years ago
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