Rome, Jan 25 (IANS/AKI) Italian confidence in public institutions – especially the government – has hit an all-time low, according to a survey by a research agency.
The survey by the Eurispes research agency reveals that 68.5 percent of Italians have little, or no faith at all in their government. The figures are up from 48.5 percent, or 22 percent higher than last year’s figures.
Youths between 18-24 years of age are the most disillusioned, Eurispes reveals, with 46.1 percent having ‘little faith’ and 44.9 percent ‘no faith’.
Among young people aged between 25 and 34, 35.4 percent expressed ‘little faith’ and 52 percent expressed ‘no faith’.
The data was gathered for Eurispes’ annual report on Italy and comes as sex-scandal mired prime minister Silvio Berlusconi’s grip on power has looked shakier in the wake of a series of prostitution probes.
The latest sex scandal centres on a teenage Moroccan nighclub dancer has incurred censure from the Catholic Church and tarnished Berlusconi’s image abroad.
Over all in 2011, the Italian government is down 12.1 percent compared to last year – with only 14.6 percent of those surveyed expressing faith in the government, the lowest figure since 2004, Eurispes says.
Only 2.2 percent of those asked said their confidence in institutions grew, while 27.5 percent said their confidence was unchanged.
The sole institutional figure whose ratings increased was the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. His rating rose from 62.1 percent in 2009 to 67.9 percent in 2010 and stands at 68.2 percent in 2011, Eurispes said.
The survey, called Italy Report 2011, was completed in mid January, and is based on interviews with 1,532 citizens.
