The shadow of the White House over Europe. Trump perceived as stronger than Merz, Macron and Starmer

Donald Trump's return as US president was more important to voters in Germany, France and Great Britain than the election of their own governments, according to a survey commissioned by Politico.

In Germany and the UK, more than half of respondents considered Trump's election more important than the election of their own leaders – even though both in Germany and the UK Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Prime Minister Keir Starmer came to power relatively recently.

In Germany, 53 percent respondents assessed that Trump's election was more important for their country than Merz's win (every fourth respondent had the opposite opinion). A similar result was obtained in a survey in Great Britain, where 54 percent people said that Trump's return to the White House was more important than Starmer's Labor Party taking power. 28 percent British survey participants believed that the national elections that ended the 14-year period of rule of the Conservative Party were more important. In the case of France, 43 percent indicated Trump's election victory, and 25 percent – for the victory of President Emmanuel Macron.

The same question was also asked Canadian study participants. As much as 40 percent decided that Mark Carney's victory in the April election was more important than Trump's re-election. The American president was chosen by 45 percent. respondents. Carney's campaign – as the portal recalled – was based on the announcement of resistance to the actions of the new authorities in Washington.

Respondents were asked to rate who was more “strong and decisive” – ​​their national leaders or the American president. In Germany, 74 percent respondents pointed to Trump (26 percent to Merz). In France, the results were similar (73% to 27% in favor of the US president). The British Prime Minister received slightly better ratings: 69% of respondents indicated that Trump was stronger and more decisive. respondents, and 31 percent was of the opposite opinion. Canada turned out to be a notable exception, the portal said. 60 percent Canadian respondents believed that Carney was stronger and more decisive than Trump. 40 percent had a different opinion.

The authors of the study emphasized that the respondents did not perceive “strength and decisiveness” as the most desirable trait of a leader. In all countries where surveys were conducted, honesty and transparency were considered more important features – the portal reported.

Respondents were asked whether their national leaders dealt well or poorly with the American president. 24% of German respondents thought that Merz did well (34% were of the opposite opinion). In France, only 16 percent respondents believed that Macron dealt with Trump effectively, and 39 percent – that it's bad. The votes in Great Britain were tied: 29 percent each. respondents thought Starmer did well and badly.

According to the portal, research shows that European respondents expected leaders from Germany, France and the UK to stand up to and challenge Trump. However, when asked how their specific national leaders should behave, they expressed the belief that cooperation was more important than questioning American moves. Canadians were an exception – in their case, the majority believed that resistance to Trump was more important than agreement.

Seb Wride, head of research at Public First, the pollster, noted that a politician's ratings rose when the public perceived him as someone pushing back against Trump. However, most politicians failed in this area, the portal emphasized.

The study was carried out on a representative sample of 10.5 thousand people. people over 28 years of age from France, Canada, Germany, the USA and Great Britain on December 5-9 this year. (PAP)

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