According to CBOS pollster, young Poles have become more polarised in their world view, there are less centrists and undecided. As regards to a record number of left-wing leanings, this sentiment prevails especially among young Polish women: 40 percent of them identify themself as left-wingers, compared to 22 percent of young men - according to the research carried out by CBOS.
In early February the Centre for Public Opinion Research (CBOS) informed that, in 2020, the percentage of young Poles (aged 18-24) holding left-wing views has doubled compared the year before, reaching the highest level in history of the research (30 percent) and for the first time in nearly 20 years surpassing the percentage of young people who hold right-wing views. In the latest research, CBOS presents the evolution of political views of young people versus their sex and place of residence.
The pollster reminded that in 2015, the percentage of right-wing sentiment among young people had been at a record high, mainly due to young males - 40 percent of them declared right-wing views (a record high) compared to 20 percent of women. In 2020, the situation had changed - mainly due to a record number of left-wing-identifying young women - 40 percent compared to 22 percent of men.
The research also shows that, very much like in 2015, the right-wing sentiment in young men also prevails today, although slightly less clearly (36 percent compared to 22). In the case of young women, the right-wing sentiment also prevailed in 2015, but in 2016 the difference dropped to only a few percentage points. In 2019, the left-wing sentiment in that group surpassed the right-wing one for the first time (19 percent vs 14), and in 2020, it doubled reaching 40 percent against 17 percent of right-wing declarations.
CBOS also pointed out that the views of young people have become polarised. 2020 saw an increase in both the percentage of people declaring right-wing views and those identifying with the left-wing, as well as a drop in the number of centrist and undecided positions. This change is particularly visible in young women - 57 percent identify with one or the other wing, compared to 33 percent in 2019.
The highest percentage of left-wing self-identification among young Poles could be seen in large cities (43 percent), while the lowest in villages (25 percent). The general increase in left-wing declarations, however, was observed in all places of residence. CBOS said that the highest spikes had been recorded in small towns up 20,000 residents (up to 30 percent from 12), cities up to 500,000 residents (up to 36 percent from 19), and in villages (up to 25 percent from 12).
In accordance with the general polarising trend, the percentage of young people self-identifying as right-wing increased in all places of residence. The highest spike was seen in large cities (up to 33 percent from 18), while the percentage in smallest cities increased by 11 percentage points.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, CBOS