TIRANA, March 6 – A recent survey published by the Italian magazine L’Espresso and conducted by Youtrend among 1,000 Italian adults shows strong preferences and varying levels of trust in international political leaders. Pedro Sánchez of Spain emerges as the most trusted figure, particularly among voters favoring progressive policies and diplomatic independence from Washington.

The survey highlights a gap between recognition and approval. Leaders such as Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin are widely known across Italy but face low net trust. Recep Tayyip Erdogan ranks lowest in trust. Conversely, some European leaders, despite lower public recognition, achieve higher approval ratings.

Among the leaders included in the survey, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama ranks seventh. The result underscores Rama’s visibility in European political discourse, even outside the Western Balkans, amid broader attention to domestic reforms and regional initiatives.

Youtrend notes that high visibility does not guarantee trust. Leaders with extensive media exposure, such as Trump and Putin, remain polarizing. The survey employed CAWI methodology from January 27 to 29, 2026, with a ±3.1% margin of error and a 95% confidence interval.

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