¿Quién defiende la democracia?: Confianza ciudadana en actores políticos e institucionales en España

This study explores public perceptions of trust in various actors responsible for safeguarding democracy in Spain, drawing upon data from Flash Eurobarometer 522(Democracy) through both descriptive and dimensional analyses. Findings reveal two distinct dimensions of trust. The first dimension comprises structural institutions, including the judiciary, electoral authorities, and the European Union, which enjoy relatively high public confidence attributed to their perceived stability and impartiality. Conversely, the second dimension encompasses more dynamic actors such as political parties, the media, and the government, whose trust levels exhibit greater volatility, shaped significantly by political circumstances and media dynamics. The analysis underscoreswidespread skepticism toward political parties and the media, while civil society organizations and ordinary citizens emerge as the actors perceived as most legitimate and credible in the defense of democratic values