Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1262267
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JUNE 2020 MALTATODAY SURVEY KURT SANSONE SUPPORT for the Labour Par- ty has declined to its lowest level since January, with the governing party registering 45.9% in a Malt- aToday survey. The result represented a decline of six points since the survey held last month, when the PL scored its highest result in almost two years. But the PL's decline was not re- flected in advancement for the Nationalist Party, which remained in the same state it was last month. At 21.7%, support for the PN dropped marginally by less than half a percentage point. There was an increase of eight points to 18.2% in those who said they will not vote. The gap between the two major parties stood at 24 points, while Alternattiva Demokratika and the Democratic Party registered a combined 1.6%. The survey was held be- tween 12 June and 18 June, a period after the govern- ment retracted its position to hold migrants in detention out at sea and when it announced an economic stim- ulus package for the sum- mer months. The PL was ahead of the PN among women and men, across all ages and all re- gions. In line with the trust rat- ing of its leader, the PL scored its highest result in the Southern Harbour region with 66.1%, followed by Gozo with 56.3% and the S o u t h - E a s t e r n region with 52.3%. Its lowest support was in the North- ern region with 34.5%, albeit still almost 14 points ahead of the PN. The PN's strongest showing was in the Northern Harbour region where it registered 32%, closing the gap with the PL to a mere four points. The PL retained the support of 85.7% of those who voted for it in the 2017 general election, as op- posed to the PN, which retained 50% of its voters. There were 2.4% of PL voters, who said they will now vote PN, and 3.2% of PN voters who will switch to Labour if an election is held tomorrow. A quarter of PN voters in the last election said they will not vote, as opposed to 5.3% of PL voters. The results suggest that in its third year of government, despite registering a level of disgruntle- ment, the PL has retained a strong support base. Any midterm blues is not being reflected in a transfer of votes to the PN, which continues to be hampered by a lack of trust in its leader by its own support base. Methodology The survey was carried out be- tween Friday 12 June 2020 and Thursday 18 June 2020. 653 respond- ents opted to complete the survey. S t r a t i f i e d r a n d o m s a m p l i n g based on re- gion, age and gender was used to rep- licate the Maltese demo- graphic. The estimated margin of error is 5% for a confidence interval of 95% for the overall results. Demographic and sub- group breakdowns have larger margins of error. PL support declines but midterm blues brings no joy to PN Gozo Northern N Harbour S Eastern S Harbour Western 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 62.4% 13.0% 24.6% 50.3% 22.3% 25.3% 40.5% 21.3% 38.2% 58.9% 14.7% 25.2% 75.4% 12.7% 11.9% 52.8% 17.6% 29.5% Which political party would you vote for if a general election were to be held tomorrow? ALL PL 2017 PN 2017 Didn't vote 2017 Male Female 18-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Primary Secondary Post-Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern N Harbour S Eastern S Harbour Western 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 45.9% 21.7% 12.6% 18.2% 85.6% 6.7% 50.0% 18.7% 25.6% 20.1% 15.4% 59.6% 44.2% 22.4% 10.9% 19.9% 48.0% 21.0% 14.7% 16.1% 39.2% 13.8% 18.4% 25.4% 43.2% 22.7% 11.4% 20.2% 49.6% 21.1% 11.4% 17.9% 54.5% 32.8% 6.7% 57.7% 26.9% 7.0% 8.4% 61.2% 18.4% 6.2% 13.8% 35.8% 29.3% 15.4% 16.4% 31.4% 18.6% 19.7% 27.7% 56.3% 17.8% 16.3% 7.1% 34.5% 20.7% 16.7% 23.0% 36.0% 32.0% 6.8% 23.1% 52.2% 14.7% 22.7% 10.4% 66.1% 15.6% 12.4% 43.2% 18.2% 16.2% 22.4% PL PN AD PD Don't know No vote 35 40 45 50 55 Which party would you vote for if a general election were to be held tomorrow?