INSCOP Survey: Romanians Trust the Army Most, Gov’t and Parliament Least

An INSCOP Research survey conducted between June 20-26, 2025, shows that the Army is the national institution in which Romanians have the most trust. At the opposite pole are the Government and Parliament.   The Army is the institution in which Romanians have the highest level of trust, with 63% saying they have “quite a lot” or “very much” confidence in it. It is followed by the Church (57.7%) and the Romanian Academy (46.8%). Next in the ranking are the Police with 43.2%, the National Bank of Romania with 42.5%, City Halls with 38.9%, and the Presidency with 34.8%. The bottom of the list includes the Press (26.9%), the Government (20.4%), and Parliament (14.5%).   The Army garners the highest trust from PSD and PNL voters, people over 60, those with primary education, and rural residents. The Church is especially trusted by AUR voters and those under 30. The Romanian Academy enjoys the highest trust among PSD and PNL voters and public sector employees. The Police are trusted most by PSD voters and young people under 30.   The National Bank of Romania is trusted mainly by PNL and USR voters, young people under 30, those with higher education, and residents of Bucharest and large urban centers. City Halls are trusted mostly by PSD, PNL, and USR voters. The Presidency is trusted most by PNL and USR voters, those under 30, higher-educated individuals, and urban dwellers, particularly in Bucharest.   The Press is most trusted by PSD voters and people over 60. The Government is trusted mainly by PSD, PNL, and USR voters, young people under 30, those with higher education, and public employees. Parliament has relatively higher trust among PSD, PNL, and USR voters and those under 30 compared to the general population.   “The Informat.ro Barometer – INSCOP Research from June-July 2025 shows that Romanians place their trust in institutions perceived as stable and apolitical: the Army and the Church stand out, reflecting a need for solid anchors in a climate of uncertainty. The Romanian Academy remains a symbol of cultural continuity, being more respected than influential. On the opposite end, central political institutions – the Government, Parliament, and even the Presidency – suffer from a legitimacy crisis due to deep distrust in the political class. The Police and the National Bank of Romania hold a middle position, seen as functional but not immune to erosion of trust. City Halls enjoy a more favorable perception than other political institutions, indicating that closeness to citizens matters. The Press, essential to democracy, remains marked—like in other countries—by divided perceptions between its role as a guarantor of information and suspicion of partisanship. Political polarization in society is evident in institutional trust as well, with voters of governing parties showing significantly higher trust than AUR voters, who exhibit chronic distrust in all institutions. From this perspective, the risk of amplification and exploitation of social divisions by hostile state actors becomes a major concern for Romania in the next three years,” says Remus Stefureac, director of INSCOP Research.   The monthly Informat.ro Barometer – INSCOP Research is a public opinion survey conducted by INSCOP Research for the news platform Informat.ro in partnership with the think-tank Strategic Thinking Group.