Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1514108
10 SURVEY maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 JANUARY 2024 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt ROBERTA Metsola has emerged as the most trusted MEP among Maltese voters with a score of 22% in a MaltaToday survey. But despite the Nationalist MEP's strong international pro- file as president of the European Parliament, she only leads Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba by five points. However, the survey found that 25% of the electorate trusts none of the six incumbent MEPs. And while Agius Saliba is at par with Metsola among male and low-income earners, he outstrips the EU parliament president among over 65-year-olds. In contrast, Metsola leads Agius Saliba by eight points among fe- male respondents and by 11 points among 16- to 35-year-olds. The survey also shows a sharp class divide, with Metsola's trust rating increasing substantially among higher income groups. Agius Saliba is level with Metsola among those declaring a month- ly income of between €1,000 and €2,000. But Metsola's trust rat- ing increases from less than 20% among those earning less than €2,000 to 36% among those earn- ing more than €4,000. A geographical breakdown also shows Agius Saliba leading in the Labour-leaning Southern Harbour (22%) and Southeastern regions (34%). Saliba is also leading in the more heterogenous Western re- gion, which includes towns like Żebbuġ and Attard (33%). On the other hand, Metsola leads in the PN-leaning Northern (18%) and North Harbour regions (24%) and peaks in the electorally strate- gic Gozo region (43%). A breakdown by education shows Metsola leading by 16 points among the tertiary edu- cated but leading by a whisker among both the secondary and the post-secondary educated. On his part Saliba leads by 11 points among those with a pri- mary level of education, who are mostly pensioners. Not spared the disenchantment But while Metsola and Agius Saliba emerge as the two front runners among incumbents in their respective parties, the survey shows that MEPs are not spared from widespread disenchantment with the political class. In this case, a staggering 25% declared having no trust in any of the six incumbents while 23% re- plied 'Don't Know'. This suggest that nearly half of voters could not name an MEP they can trust. The survey also suggests great- er disenchantment among those who voted for the Labour Party in the 2022 general election. Among these voters, 28% do not trust any of the current MEPs. In contrast only 12% of PN voters have no trust in any serving MEP. But Metsola who is trusted by 45% of PN voters in 2022, does make limited inroads among non-voters in the 2022 general election. A significant 20% of non-voters in the 2022 general election trust her the most but enjoys less sup- port among current non-voters among which she is trusted by 13%. Agius Saliba who is trusted by 35% of 2022 PL voters makes less inroads among current non-voters (7%) and non-voters in 2022 (4%). Metsola is also marginally more trusted by Labour voters in 2022 (5%) than Aguis Saliba is trusted by PN voters (1%). Leaders of the pack The survey also clearly indicates that Metsola and Agius Saliba start the race for re-election with a clear advantage over the other incum- bents in their respective camps. But the survey also shows that an opening exists for new entrants in both parties among respondents in both camps who are either un- decided or have no trust in current MEPs. These amount to 49% of Labour voters in 2022 and to 38% of PN voters. But when the choice is limited to the current crop of MEPs, both front runners lack any serious competition. Metsola enjoys a 31-point lead over veteran MEP David Casa who is still trusted by a solid 14% of PN voters and by over a tenth of PN voters in the Northern and North Harbour regions. But Casa enjoys little appeal among non-voters. In the PL, Agius Saliba faces even less internal competition, with his nearest 'rival' being Alfred Sant who will not seek re-election in the June election. Sant a former Labour leader is most trusted by 7% of PL voters. But in an indication that he still holds some appeal over disen- chanted Labour voters, he also enjoys the trust of 4% of current non-voters. Overall, Labour incumbents Jo- sianne Cutajar and Cyrus Enger- er fall short of the 3% mark and therefore their scores fall within the survey's margin of error, which Roberta Metsola is most trusted