Politicians worldwide are facing a surge in violence, threats and harassment, a survey published on Wednesday by the global Inter-Parliamentary Union found, warning that the trend, fueled by new technologies, could have major repercussions for democracy.

The IPU survey, opens new tab, mostly conducted in 2025, was based on questions submitted to lawmakers in more than 80 countries, with detailed questionnaires to 519 elected officials in five - Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands - to provide a representative global picture.