President Nikos Christodoulides continues to face low levels of popularity and public trust, despite a slight improvement in perceptions of the economy compared to February 2025. The administration’s most significant challenge remains the widespread belief that the President governs in order to appoint friends and relatives - a sentiment that has dramatically increased from 34% in February to 58% in October.
These findings are based on a RetailZoom online survey conducted on behalf of Politis, with the participation of 3,000 people. The survey reveals a bleak view of public institutions and widespread dissatisfaction with the President, particularly regarding allegations of nepotism and a perceived lack of meritocracy.
Economy: Small gains, big problems
Economic perceptions have shown modest progress. In February, just 19% of Cypriots said their personal financial situation had improved; that figure now stands at 24%. Still, 34% report that their circumstances have worsened, while 40% say they’ve remained the same. The age group 25–34 reported the greatest improvement (33%), whereas 35% of those aged 35–44 stated their situation had deteriorated.
Satisfaction with the government’s overall economic performance also ticked up slightly, from 17% in February to 20% in October. However, over half of the population (51%) still express dissatisfaction, while another 28% rate the government’s performance as merely average.
The image problem
Public perception of the President’s personal leadership qualities has worsened. The belief that Christodoulides is placing friends and family into positions of power has soared to 58%, up from 34% earlier this year.
Only 17% of respondents hold a positive view of the Christodoulides administration overall, while 61% expressed a negative opinion. Women are more critical than men (63% disapproval), and Nicosia residents were the most disillusioned, with 65% expressing dissatisfaction. Among citizens aged 55–64, disapproval reached 67%.
The Cyprus problem
Public confidence in the President’s handling of the Cyprus problem remains weak. While approval has increased from 18% in February to 22% in October, 55% of respondents still disapprove of his approach. Again, Nicosia residents were particularly sceptical (58% disapproval), as were young people aged 18–24, with 64% expressing dissatisfaction.
The study notes that the questions were not detailed enough to determine exactly why people disapprove. Analysts suggest the President’s attempts to appeal to all sides have left most unsatisfied. With potential political shifts in the north should Tufan Erhürman be elected, Christodoulides may be forced to clarify his positions, and future surveys may reflect a sharper opinion divide.
Electricity and water management: Overwhelming discontent
When it comes to managing electricity costs, 75% of citizens are either not at all or only slightly satisfied with the government’s approach. Just 10% said they were very or extremely satisfied.
Regarding water management - a key issue given Cyprus's chronic shortages - nearly half (48%) said they were not at all satisfied, and a further 17% were only slightly satisfied. Only 14% gave a positive score. Interestingly, younger citizens were more open to the government’s desalination strategies.
Who do Cypriots trust?
Perhaps the most revealing statistic comes from a question about trust in national institutions. A staggering 40% of respondents answered: “None”.
Among the few that still held public trust:
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Audit Office (28%),
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National Guard (16%).
The rest of the country's institutions appear to have lost the confidence of 80% or more of the public.
Survey details
The RetailZoom online survey was conducted between 3 and 8 October 2025 and gathered responses from 3,000 Cypriot adults aged 18 and over. The margin of error is ±2% with a 95% confidence interval. Responses were weighted by gender, age group, and district. Notably, the sample had a higher proportion of university-educated participants than the general population.
RetailZoom is a member of ESOMAR, EFAMRO, and the Cyprus Association of Market Research and Polling Companies (ΣΕΔΕΑΚ).