Politicians around the world are experiencing a sharp increase in violence, threats and harassment, a major survey published this week by the global Inter‑Parliamentary Union (IPU) warns, in a trend that analysts say could have serious consequences for democratic governance. The report, based on responses from lawmakers in more than 80 countries and detailed questionnaires from 519 elected officials in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands, found that 71 % of respondents reported experiencing violence from the public, particularly in digital spaces where attacks are often anonymous and amplified by social media and new technologies.
IPU Secretary‑General Martin Chungong, speaking at a press conference at United Nations headquarters in New York, emphasized the severity of the situation. He described an environment in which online intimidation and threats are increasingly common, discouraging lawmakers from speaking freely and even influencing what they say or write publicly out of fear for their personal safety. Women parliamentarians, the report notes, are disproportionately targeted, especially in sexualized forms of abuse, and MPs from minority or disadvantaged groups face even higher levels of hostility.
The findings also highlight a particularly acute situation in the United States, where public figures have faced high‑profile attacks. Chungong cited incidents involving Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, along with past assassination attempts against then‑President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign, as examples of how political violence can escalate beyond online harassment to real‑world danger. Such incidents, the IPU argues, underscore how intimidation risks narrowing democratic representation if left unchecked, as lawmakers may self‑censor or withdraw from public life.
Beyond individual impacts, the IPU report frames the surge in threats as a broader challenge to democratic processes. Rising political polarization, declining trust in public institutions, and the amplification of hostility through digital platforms are all cited as drivers of hostility, with online abuse often peaking around elections or major legislative debates. The organization has urged parliamentary and political leaders to adopt stronger protections for elected officials and to set clearer standards for public discourse, warning that sustained intimidation could weaken parliaments and erode public trust in representative institutions.
This global snapshot comes amid other IPU findings showing long‑term increases in human rights abuses against lawmakers, including a 2025 IPU report documenting over 1,000 cases of violations affecting MPs worldwide, with women and opposition figures disproportionately impacted.