Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1521306
18 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 MAY 2024 SURVEY JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Abela leads Bernard Grech by PRIME Minister Robert Abela is leading Opposition leader Bernard Grech by 14.7 points in MaltaToday's trust barom- eter, up from 11 points in the beginning of May. But in a sign of growing dis- trust in the political establish- ment, for the second consec- utive time a relative majority (38.7%) does not trust either of the two political leaders. Compared to the previous survey Abela has gained 1.2 points while Grech has lost 2.8 points. Respondents who do not trust either of the two leaders have increased by 1.6 points. Once again, the survey shows that an absolute major- ity (54%) of 16 to 35 year olds trusts neither of the two polit- ical leaders. The increased gap between the two political leaders is explained by a 5.4-point drop in Grech's trust rating among Nationalist voters from the 2022 general election and a 1.8-point increase in Abela's trust rating among Labour voters. Significantly, 35.1% of PN voters in 2022 and 21.1 of PL voters trust neither of the two leaders. Distrust in both leaders does not necessarily translate into abstention in the forthcoming MEP election. But the survey suggests that PN voters who distrust Grech are more likely to vote for their party than PL voters who distrust Abela. While 25.4% of current PN voters trust neither Abela nor Grech, only 5.4% of current PL voters distrust both leaders. The survey shows both lead- ers making very limited in- roads outside their respective parties. While 2.4% of La- bour voters in 2022 now trust Grech more than Abela, 3.2% of PN voters trust Abela more than Grech. Not surprisingly among cur- rent non-voters the vast ma- jority (81.8%) trusts neither of the two leaders. But in an indication that Labour can still lure back some of these voters, while 12.6% trust Abe- la only 5.6% trust Grech. This suggests that in the final weeks of the campaign Labour has a greater chance of recovering some support in this category. Abela leads Grech in all age groups The survey shows Abela lead- ing Grech in all age groups. But in a clear sign of a loss of trust in both leaders among younger voters, a staggering 54% of under 35-year-old vot- ers, and 46.8% of 36 to 50 year olds trust neither leader. Trust in both leaders is high- est among over 65 year olds where Abela leads Grech by 16.6 points. Abela also leads Grech by 9.5 points among those aged between 51 and 65, by 16.5 points among those aged between 36 and 50 and by 15.7 points among 15 to 35 year olds. Abela leads in five out of six regions Abela emerges as the most trusted political leader in every Maltese region except the Western region where Grech leads by a whisker. But a rel- ative majority trust neither of the two leaders in the North- ern, North Harbour, Western and Gozo regions. The highest level of distrust (52%) in the two leaders was expressed by Gozitans, fol- lowed by inhabitants of the Northern region (44%) and is lowest in the South-Eastern region where only 28.2% trust neither of the two leaders. Abela gets his best rating in the South-Eastern region (51%) where he leads Grech by 30.2 points and the South Har- bour region (49.6%) where he leads Grech by 37.4 points. Low income earners rally behind Abela The survey also shows that distrust in both leaders is highest among affluent vot- ers; 51.1% among those earn- ing a monthly income of over €3,000 and 50.6% among those earning between €2,001 and €3,000. Abela enjoys his best trust rating among low income earners particularly Gender 100.0% 90.0% 80.0% 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0 Female Male 36% 28.2% 4.1% 31.7% 34.8% 30.9% 5.4% 29% PL PN Others Will not vote Gender 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 Female Male 38.2% 20.9% 40.9% 37.9% 25.6% 36.5% Robert Abela Bernard Grech None Trust Barometer All Voters Robert Abela Bernard Grech None 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 38 23.3 38.7 All Voters 26 May 2024 15 May 2024 How do you rate government's performance? Trust: 2022 voters Trust barometer by gender