Notably, in Poland, over half of the population (55%) shares this concern, followed by 35% in the Czech Republic, 31% in Slovakia, and 38% in Hungary.

Conducted by the Central European Digital Media Observatory (CEDMO), the survey delved into perceptions of which foreign entities are most likely to influence the elections. In the Czech Republic, respondents identified Russia, the European Union, and the United States as primary actors.

Conversely, Slovakians anticipated influence from the EU, the U.S., and then Russia. Hungary ranked Russia as the most likely influencer, followed by the EU and the U.S., with China ranking third. In Poland, respondents expected Russian influence, followed by the EU and Germany.

Moreover, the survey revealed varying levels of satisfaction with democracy across the V4 countries, with Czechs and Poles reporting higher levels compared to Slovaks and Hungarians. Additionally, trust in European institutions surpassed trust in domestic ones among Czech respondents, with nearly a third expressing confidence in the European Parliament and the European Commission.

Interest in participating in the European Parliament elections also varied, with Poles showing the highest enthusiasm, followed by Hungarians, and then Slovaks and Czechs.

The survey findings also highlighted trends of disinformation circulating in the lead-up to the elections. Misinformation was circulated in Poland regarding the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which prohibits the use of toilet paper, homegrown fruit and vegetables, and the possibility of home confiscation.

Conducted by IPSOS and Instytut Badań Pollster, the survey collected data from representative samples in the V4 countries aged 18–65 years between March 28 and April 3, 2024. Additionally, fact-checking organizations affiliated with CEDMO identified and addressed disinformation narratives related to the European Parliament elections in the first four months of 2024.