How do corruption cases affect public opinion? Which institutions do Greek citizens trust?
Much of the public debate in Greece focuses on the state of the political system. But how often do we examine the relationship between citizens and politics itself – a fundamental dimension of every democracy?
This is what academics call political culture, as defined in Gabriel Almond and Sidney Verba’s influential 1963 work The Civic Culture. Put simply, it has three basic aspects: citizens’ knowledge of politics, their evaluation and trust in institutions, and their degree of participation in public life.
It is especially the second dimension that has drawn attention in Greece in recent years. In the post-crisis era – and amid global upheavals – a culture of low trust seems to have taken hold. A constant undercurrent of suspicion toward key institutions occasionally intensifies depending on the political climate.
In this survey, we focused on elements of political culture in combination with corruption, which has recently emerged as one of the country’s most pressing concerns, particularly following cases such as that of the agricultural payments agency OPEKEPE.
The vote and the future of the country
There is, however, one optimistic finding. A majority of respondents believe that their vote – the cornerstone of democracy – does matter and can influence the country’s future. Thirty percent said their vote can influence it “very much” and 34% “quite a lot,” while only 9% said not at all. Younger generations are even more convinced: 33% of Generation Z and 35% of Millennials said their vote matters “a lot.”
But this positive outlook is weakened by another factor: political trust. Trust in parliament – the key institution of representative democracy – now sits at just 3.2 on a scale of 0 to 10, among the lowest levels in recent years. Unsurprisingly, low trust is linked to the belief that voting has little impact: among those who feel little confidence in politics, 12% said the vote has no influence on the country’s future.
“All politicians are the same”
A more pessimistic finding is the persistence of the belief that “all politicians are the same.” While a majority (56%) disagrees, 41% of respondents agree – particularly those who reject the traditional left–right divide (53%).
Generational differences are again notable. Although younger people believe in the importance of voting, they are also more likely to dismiss politicians as indistinguishable: agreement reaches 45% among Millennials and 42% among Generation X, the groups hit hardest by the economic crisis during their most productive years.
Trust levels are decisive here as well. Among those with high trust in politics, 75% reject the idea that all politicians are the same. But among those with low trust, a majority (53%) agrees with it.
This shows that while citizens still believe in the significance of their vote, they often feel that politics offers few real alternatives.
The role of corruption
This sense of low trust is reinforced by perceptions of corruption. Greece scores poorly in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index: in 2024 it ranked 21st among EU countries, with 49 points on a scale where 0 means high corruption and 100 high transparency.
How much do Greeks trust institutions?
Against this backdrop, the survey examined which institutions citizens trust to uncover the truth in corruption cases. Strikingly, the highest confidence is given to a body outside Greece: the European justice system, trusted by 73% of respondents, largely due to the role of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in the OPEKEPE case.
Among domestic institutions, the police rank highest, with 49% expressing trust, followed by the Greek judiciary at 34% (though 65% said they have little or no trust in it). Political institutions rank lowest: only 26% trust the opposition and 22% trust the government, while both are overwhelmingly viewed with skepticism.
Conclusions
The same pattern emerges across all areas: those with higher political trust are more likely to trust institutions to investigate corruption, while younger generations and those with lower political trust remain skeptical.
As Almond and Verba wrote in 1963, political culture depends on communication and persuasion, consensus but also diversity. The evidence from Greece suggests that some of its most vital components are being eroded. Above all, one essential element is missing: trust.
About the survey
- Conducted by Metron Analysis, September 10–16, 2025
- Type: Nationwide public opinion survey on political issues, social perceptions, and indicators of public sentiment
- Method: Telephone interviews (69% landline, 31% mobile) and online panel interviews
- Sample: 1,300 respondents aged 17+, with a maximum margin of error of ±2.7%
- Oversight: 3 supervisors and 36 interviewers; 23% of telephone interviews monitored live; 100% checked electronically
- Weighting: Adjusted for gender, age, and vote in the 2024 European elections
Giannis Balampanidis is a political analyst and Head of Political & Social Research at Metron Analysis.
