Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1534549
mt SURVEY maltatoday | SUNDAY • 20 APRIL 2025 11 Neutrality highly valued by PN and PL voters MALTA'S neutrality, which precludes the use of the country as a mili- tary base, is highly valued across all demographics of voters, a MaltaToday sur- vey reveals. Respondents were asked to rate the importance they give to Malta re- maining constitutionally neutral on a scale from 0 (not important at all) to 10 (very important). In a sign that neutrality is deeply cherished, Maltese respondents rate the im- portance of retaining the country's neutral status at an average of 9.1. Moreover, neutrality is highly valued by both PN and PL voters. While cur- rent PN voters rate its importance at an average of 8.4, PL voters give it a higher rating of 9.6. Neu- trality is also highly rated by non-voters (9.3). It is marginally more ap- preciated by women (9.3), those aged 36 to 50 (9.3), and respondents with a primary level of education (9.6). It is slightly less val- ued by men (8.9), those aged 16 to 35 (8.8), and re- spondents with a tertiary education (8.6). Overall, less than 4% of respondents give the im- portance of neutrality a rating of 4 or less. This percentage rises to 6% among the tertiary-edu- cated. The survey suggests that Malta's neutrality is etched into the national psyche in a rare display of national consensus that overrides partisan divides. Majority favour more defence spending However, despite rating neutrality highly, the Mal- tese are divided on wheth- er both Malta and the EU should increase their de- fence spending. This indicates that vot- ers distinguish between remaining constitution- ally neutral and address- ing Malta's and the EU's defence needs amidst mounting threats – two is- sues that are not necessar- ily mutually exclusive. The survey shows that an absolute majority of 53% agree that the EU should increase its defence spend- ing, while 28.4% disagree and 18.5% are undecided. Additionally, 50.2% agree that Malta itself should in- crease its defence spend- ing, compared to 35.9% who disagree and 14% who are undecided. But a clear divergence emerges between Labour voters and other voters on this issue. While a major- ity of non-voters and PN voters support increased defence spending, a ma- jority of PL voters are op- posed. This could reflect the historical sensitivities of Labour voters as well as recent controversy related to the EU's rearmament agenda, and the Prime Minister's greater em- phasis on neutrality after he had rattled traditional Labour voters by first call- ing for a public discussion on whether the neutrality clauses in the Constitution adequately serves Malta's defence needs in the face of present and future con- flicts. The survey shows that while 50.4% of PL voters oppose increased defence spending by Malta, an absolute majority of PN voters (69%) and a rela- tive majority of non-voters (48%) are in favour. As for increased EU de- fence spending, two-thirds of PN voters and 53.6% of non-voters agree, com- pared to just 33.2% of PL voters. Agreement with higher defence spending by both Malta (58.3%) and the EU (65.9%) is strongest among respondents with tertiary education. Younger re- spondents aged 16 to 35 are also more favourable to increased defence spend- ing (61%), as opposed to pensioners (43%). maltatoday Neutrality and defence Polling and market research since 2002 SURVEY 0 10 Overall How important is Malta's neutrality for you? 0 10 PL voters 0 10 PN voters 0 means no importance and 10 highest importance Current PN voters Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 69% 19.7% 11.3% Should Malta increase its spending on defence and security? Current PN voters Do you agree that the EU should increase its spending on defence and security? Majority agree with increased defence spending by Malta and the EU maltatoday Neutrality and defence Polling and market research since 2002 SURVEY The survey was carried out between Friday 28 March 2025 and Monday 8 April 2025. 651 respondents opted to complete the survey. Stratified random sampling based on region, age and gender was used to replicate the Maltese demographic. The estimated margin of error is 3.84% for a confidence interval of 95% for the overall results. Demographic and sub-group breakdowns have 0 10 Overall How important is Malta's neutrality for you? 0 10 PL voters 0 10 PN voters 0 means no importance and 10 highest importance Overall Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 50.2% 35.9% 14% Should Malta increase its spending on defence and security? Overall Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 53.1% 28.4% 18.5% Do you agree that the EU should increase its spending on defence and security? maltatoday Neutrality and defence Polling and market research since 2002 SURVEY The survey was carried out between Friday 28 March 2025 and Monday 8 April 2025. 651 respondents opted to complete the survey. Stratified random sampling based on region, age and gender was used to replicate the Maltese demographic. The estimated margin of error is 3.84% for a confidence interval of 95% for the overall results. Demographic and sub-group breakdowns have 0 10 Overall How important is Malta's neutrality for you? 0 10 PL voters 0 10 PN voters 0 means no importance and 10 highest importance Overall Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 50.2% 35.9% 14% Should Malta increase its spending on defence and security? Overall Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 53.1% 28.4% 18.5% Do you agree that the EU should increase its spending on defence and security? maltatoday Neutrality and defence Polling and market research since 2002 SURVEY 0 10 Overall How important is Malta's neutrality for you? 0 10 PL voters 0 10 PN voters 0 means no importance and 10 highest importance Overall Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 50.2% 35.9% 14% Should Malta increase its spending on defence and security? Do you agree that the EU should increase its spending on defence and security? maltatoday Neutrality and defence Polling and market research since 2002 SURVEY The survey was carried out between Friday 28 March 2025 and Monday 8 April 2025. 651 respondents opted to complete the survey. Stratified random sampling based on region, age and gender was used to replicate the Maltese demographic. The estimated margin of error is 3.84% for a confidence interval of 95% for the overall results. Demographic and sub-group breakdowns have significantly larger margins of error. 0 10 Overall How important is Malta's neutrality for you? 0 10 PL voters 0 10 PN voters 0 means no importance and 10 highest importance Current PL voters Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 34.5% 50.4% 15.2% Should Malta increase its spending on defence and security? Current PL voters Yes No Don't know 0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 33.2% 45.6% 21.3% Do you agree that the EU should increase its spending on defence and security? JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.