Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1318996
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 13 DECEMBER 2020 MALTATODAY SURVEY KURT SANSONE IN a year dominated by the COV- ID-19, the pandemic is the top concern of Maltese across all age groups, regions and irrespec- tive of political affiliation. A MaltaToday survey found that 46.2% indi- cated COVID-19 as one of their two topmost concerns, more than three times higher than last July. This reflects the post-summer increase in new coronavirus cases and deaths as a result of the virus. Second in line as a top con- cern is corruption at 10.8%, an increase of two points since last July. Over the past few months police arrests and interroga- tion of former minister Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat's chief of staff Keith Schembri, apart from revela- tions on the intimate relationship between murder suspect Yor- gen Fenech and pol- iticians and public officials, may have contributed to the in- crease in corruption as a concern. The third ranked concern is illegal im- migration at 7.2%, which, however, is half of what it was last July. The number of mi- grants arriving by boat has dropped significantly following greater coop- eration with the Libyan coastguard to stop depar- tures. The economy was iden- tified by 6.7% of people as a worrying factor, fol- lowed by 3.1% who in- dicated unemployment as a concern. Last July unemployment had not featured as a con- cern as govern- ment unveiled its recovery package that included a wage supplement. The appearance of joblessness as a concern is an indication that Corruption is top concern after COVID-19 ALL PL now PN now No vote PL 2017 PN 2017 Didn't vote 2017 M F 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% 6.7% 7.2% 10.8% 46.2% 6.5% 10.0% 52.7% 18.5% 41.2% 7.0% 12.5% 44.3% 7.0% 10.2% 52.9% 18.2% 40.6% 10.2% 6.7% 9.8% 39.3% 8.0% 8.1% 11.7% 42.9% 6.4% 9.9% 49.5% 10.1% 11.7% 40.6% 9.0% 13.1% 47.4% 11.0% 9.8% 45.7% 9.4% 8.3% 52.0% 6.3% 56.2% 10.7% 9.3% 49.3% 10.5% 8.3% 9.2% 45.1% 9.7% 15.8% 38.6% 9.6% 11.8% 56.6% 8.4% 16.5% 42.7% 6.3% 5.9% 9.3% 48.3% 9.9% 45.9% 8.7% 12.6% 9.2% 47.6% 6.3% 8.3% 15.5% 39.2% The Tra�c, Construction No Economy Immigration Corruption COVID-19 Top 5 concerns across all demographics Concerns: comparing December 2020 ALL PL now PN now No vote PL 2017 PN 2017 Didn't vote 2017 M F 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% 6.7% 7.2% 10.8% 46.2% 6.5% 10.0% 52.7% 18.5% 41.2% 7.0% 12.5% 44.3% 7.0% 10.2% 52.9% 18.2% 40.6% 10.2% 6.7% 9.8% 39.3% 8.0% 8.1% 11.7% 42.9% 6.4% 9.9% 49.5% 10.1% 11.7% 40.6% 9.0% 13.1% 47.4% 11.0% 9.8% 45.7% 9.4% 8.3% 52.0% 6.3% 56.2% 10.7% 9.3% 49.3% 10.5% 8.3% 9.2% 45.1% 9.7% 15.8% 38.6% 9.6% 11.8% 56.6% 8.4% 16.5% 42.7% 6.3% 5.9% 9.3% 48.3% 9.9% 45.9% 8.7% 12.6% 9.2% 47.6% 6.3% 8.3% 15.5% 39.2% The environment Tra�c, roads Construction No jobs Economy Immigration Corruption COVID-19 Top 5 concerns across all demographics Immigration COVID-19/Health Corruption Tra�c/roads 7.2% 14.2% 32.3% 46.2% 13.5% 10.8% 8.8% 2.5% 7.2% 13.2% Dec 2020 July 2020 November 2019 Concerns: comparing December 2020 with December 2019 ALL PL now PN now No vote PL 2017 PN 2017 Didn't vote 2017 M F 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% 6.7% 7.2% 10.8% 46.2% 6.5% 10.0% 52.7% 18.5% 41.2% 7.0% 12.5% 44.3% 7.0% 10.2% 52.9% 18.2% 40.6% 10.2% 6.7% 9.8% 39.3% 8.0% 8.1% 11.7% 42.9% 6.4% 9.9% 49.5% 10.1% 11.7% 40.6% 9.0% 13.1% 47.4% 11.0% 9.8% 45.7% 9.4% 8.3% 52.0% 6.3% 56.2% 10.7% 9.3% 49.3% 10.5% 8.3% 9.2% 45.1% 9.7% 15.8% 38.6% 9.6% 11.8% 56.6% 8.4% 16.5% 42.7% 6.3% 5.9% 9.3% 48.3% 9.9% 45.9% 8.7% 12.6% 9.2% 47.6% 6.3% 8.3% 15.5% 39.2% The environment Tra�c, roads Construction No jobs Economy Immigration Corruption COVID-19 Top 5 concerns across all demographics Immigration COVID-19/Health 7.2% 14.2% 32.3% 46.2% 13.5% Dec 2020 July 2020 November 2019 Concerns: comparing December 2020 with December 2019 PL voters 2017 52.9% COVID-19 10.2% Illegal immigration 7.1% Economy 4.7% Corruption 2.9% No jobs 1.9% Construction/inconvenience 1.7% Traffic/roads 1.1% Environment/destruction PN voters 2017 40.6% COVID-19 18.2% Corruption 5.5% Economy 3.8% Traffic/roads 3.7% Illegal immigration 3.7% No jobs 3.2% Construction/inconvenience 2.4% Environment/destruction Over the past few months police arrests and interrogation of former minister Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat's chief of staff Keith Schembri, apart from revelations on the intimate relationship between murder suspect Yorgen Fenech and politicians and public officials, may have contributed to the increase in corruption as a concern. Apart from COVID-19, which is an overriding worry, corruption and the economy are the next two highest concerns among those aged between 18 and 35, and those aged between 36 and 50