According to the latest RTLINFO/Ipsos/LeSoir/VTM/HetLaatsteNieuws Grand Barometer, which surveyed 2,600 Belgians from March 20 to 27, 69% of Belgians do not have trust in politics. This is particularly strong in Wallonia, where 74% reported a lack of trust, compared to 67% in Flanders and 65% in Brussels. Over the past year, trust in politics has decreased for 58% of Belgians and only increased for 3%, while 41% of respondents associate politics with the feeling of “mistrust.” These results highlight a general trend of diminishing confidence in politics, which has been further exacerbated by recent scandals in the Walloon Parliament. Jérémy Dodeigne, a political science professor at the University of Namur, notes that confidence tends to rise as governments respond effectively to measures.
The latest RTLINFO/Ipsos/LeSoir/VTM/HetLaatsteNieuws Grand Barometer, carried out from March 20 to 27, among 2,600 Belgians, a representative sample of the population, delivered its verdict: 69% of Belgians do not trust politics.
A figure that is all the stronger in Wallonia, where 74% of the population explain that they do not trust politicians. The figure drops to 67% in Flanders and 65% in Brussels.
Over the past 12 months, trust in politics has decreased for 58% of Belgians, increased for 3% and remained stable for 33%. When asked what feeling comes to the mind of Belgians when we talk about politics, 41% answer “mistrust”. “The lack of confidence, a lot of talk, always the same cases”, denounce Namurois, whom we went to meet.
“Trust in them, we are losing it more and more”, explains a passerby. “It’s as if they don’t learn anything from their mistakes. The latest affairs in the Walloon Parliament haven’t helped that.”
“We are in a context which is not favorable to confidence in politics, and that is not something new”, notes Jérémy Dodeigne, professor of political science at the University of Namur. “As soon as governments can respond to measures, confidence tends to rise.”
In conclusion, the latest Grand Barometer survey in Belgium shows that a majority of Belgians do not trust politicians. This lack of confidence in politics has been persisting and even increasing over the past year. The recent scandals in the Walloon Parliament further contribute to this mistrust. While some experts believe that trust can be regained when the government responds to measures, the current context remains unfavorable. It is crucial for politicians to acknowledge this issue and take concrete actions to bridge the trust gap between them and the people they serve.