Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1000343
12 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 JULY 2018 ANALYSIS Respondents who voted PN in the 2017 elections Respondents who voted PL in the 2017 elections 48.2% 39.6% 93.9% 89.9% 64.7% 62.5% 47.5% 33.2% 29.4% 24.5% 1% 0.9% are concerned that they are invading us are concerned that they are invading us believe that Malta cannot take more foreigners believe that Malta cannot take more foreigners believe that even foreigners who have lived in Malta legally for at least 10 years should not be given the right to vote believe that even foreigners who have lived in Malta legally for at least 10 years should not be given the right to vote believe that there are 30,001 to 50,000 foreigners from the EU living here believe that there are 30,001 to 50,000 foreigners from the EU living here feel that there is a tangible fear of foreigners in their locality feel that there is a tangible fear of foreigners in their locality feel that there is a risk we will lose our religion because of the influx of asylum seekers feel that there is a risk we will lose our religion because of the influx of asylum seekers In the case of asylum seekers In the case of asylum seekers KURT SANSONE NATIONALIST Party vot- ers appear to be more fearful and concerned over asylum seekers and foreigners than Labour Party supporters, ac- cording to the survey find- ings. Almost half (48.2%) of PN voters in 2017 indicated the fear of 'invasion' as their main concern with asylum seekers. The corresponding figure for PL voters stood at 39.6%. But the difference between both sets of supporters also emerged when asked about their topmost concern on regular foreigners who live and work in Malta. While 46.6% of PL voters had no significant concern, the corresponding number for PN voters dropped to 34.4%. The fear of 'invasion' from regular foreigners was the third highest concern for both PL and PN voters. How- ever, while 9.6% of Labour voters said their concern was that regular foreigners were 'invading us', the equivalent figure was higher for PN vot- ers at 15.8%. It remains unclear wheth- er this heightened edginess among PN voters represents an intrinsic fear of foreign- ers from those with a more conservative outlook, or is a reflection of the recent em- phasis of party leader, Adrian Delia, on concerns linked to foreigners. Delia has repeatedly ques- tioned the judiciousness of having so many foreigners working in Malta and picked up on concerns over crimi- nality in localities like Marsa. His words have, at times, bor- dered on the xenophobic. His position contrasts with that of Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, who has welcomed a more cosmopolitan Malta at a time when foreign labour is required to prop up record economic expansion. It remains unclear whether the relatively higher accept- ance PL voters have of for- eigners is grounded in some progressive belief or is simply a reflection of people toeing the leader's line. And while both sets of sup- porters overwhelmingly agree that there is no fear of for- eigners in the locality where they live, a slight difference does emerge. While 75.5% of PL voters believe there is no fear of foreigners in their hometown, the number drops to 69.7% among PN voters. The survey also showed that PN voters appeared to have more regular conversations with EU and non-EU foreign- ers outside the place of work than their PL counterparts. While 38.7% of PN voters had regular conversations with EU nationals outside the workplace, only 24% of PL voters reported such encoun- ters. The disparity was simi- lar when people were asked about encounters with non- EU nationals. Of those who voted PN, 33.4% admitted having regular conversations with people from outside the EU, with the equivalent fig- ure for PL voters standing at 20.6%. On foreigners, PN voters are edgier MALTATODAY SURVEY It remains unclear whether the relatively higher acceptance PL voters have of foreigners, is grounded in some progressive belief or is simply a reflection of people toeing the leader's line