Czechs among EU’s least gloomy, but most feel country is on wrong track

A new Politico survey shows Europeans are increasingly pessimistic; Czechs remain relatively upbeat, yet critical of their government’s direction.

Expats.cz Staff

Written by Expats.cz Staff Published on 31.01.2026 11:59:00 (updated on 31.01.2026) Reading time: 2 minutes

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Shutterstock / Jaromir Chalabala
Shutterstock / Jaromir Chalabala

Europeans are feeling pessimistic about pretty much everything these days, from the future of democracy to their personal prospects. But Czechs, while generally more optimistic than their neighbors, share one big concern: most believe their country is headed in the wrong direction.

A new survey by strategic communications firm FGS Global, shared with Politico, polled more than 11,700 adults across 23 EU countries last November. It found widespread gloom about national politics, global threats, and U.S. leadership under Donald Trump.

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How Europe sees itself

Across the continent, nearly two-thirds of respondents said the “best years are behind us,” while 77 percent believe life will be harder for the next generation. Even more strikingly, 76 percent of Europeans think democracy in their country is in decline.

Czechs, however, were among the least negative, with a smaller share expressing deep pessimism about democracy or the future. Still, the majority of Czech respondents felt their country is off track, a common sentiment across most EU nations.

#EU #explainer #future of Czechia #happin #survey
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