Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543912
THE ALL-NEW B10 STARTING FROM €20,900* (*2025 GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND SCRAPPAGE SCHEME INCLUDED. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY). maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 MARCH 2026 mt SURVEY spondents were asked whether it would be good for Malta to have Momentum represented in parliament. The figures suggest that despite en- joying a combined support of only 5.8% of the electorate, a broader segment of voters still believe it would be beneficial to have third-party representation in par- liament. But the survey also shows many vot- ers remain unsure about the impact of third-party representation. While 43.5% are unsure whether ADPD representa- tion would benefit the country, the per- centage rises to 46.9% with Momentum. Moreover, a smaller segment—more concentrated among Labour voters— views third-party representation neg- atively. Overall, 17.4% of voters view ADPD representation negatively and likewise, 22.4% believe Momentum's presence in parliament would be a bad thing for Malta. Labour voters are considerably more hostile to Momentum, with 36.9% view- ing the prospect of its parliamentary representation negatively as opposed to 29.1% of PL voters who view ADPD neg- atively. This may reflect Momentum's re- lentless criticism of Labour's governance record, including its chairperson's con- stant requests for investigations by the Standards Commissioner into questiona- ble ethical behaviour of ministers. But the survey also provides clues as to why a large share of the electorate is not shifting to third parties. Nearly two- thirds of non-voters are unsure whether representation by either party would be good for the country. Non-voters are also slightly more sympathetic towards ADPD (31.4%) than Momentum (27.6%). This suggests that disgruntled non-voters do not necessarily reject the political duopo- ly or else are not impressed by the current crop of third parties. PN voters view third parties more positively Crucially, the survey confirms that both third parties enjoy higher approval among PN voters than among non-vot- ers and Labour voters. This phenomenon possibly makes third parties a greater electoral threat to the PN than to the PL. Curiously, the more left-wing ADPD is also viewed more positively by PN voters than Momentum. A significant 49% of PN voters say ADPD representation in parliament would be good for the coun- try. This percentage drops to 41.4% for Momentum. In contrast, only 18.6% of PL voters view Momentum's representa- tion in parliament positively compared to 28.2% who think likewise with regards to ADPD. One explanation may be that the PN tends to perform better among more highly educated voters, who are generally more supportive of third parties. In fact, while only 29.2% of voters with secondary education view ADPD rep- resentation positively, an absolute major- ity of tertiary-educated voters (55.4%) say it would be a good thing. The same trend applies to Momentum, albeit with lower scores. This could pose a challenge to the PN since adopting a hostile narrative towards third parties—something the party has done in the past to try and consolidate its vote by drumming up the message that a vote for third parties is 'wasted'—could put off a chunk of its own voters, who sympathise with ADPD and Momentum. Third parties enjoy most sympathy in north and south east A regional breakdown shows that sym- pathy for Green Party representation is strongest in the Northern region, which includes large urban centres such as Mos- ta and St Paul's Bay. Here, 46.1% view AD- PD representation in parliament positive- ly. This is followed by the Labour-leaning South Eastern region, which includes Żejtun, Marsaskala, Birżebbuġa and the villages around the airport, where 42.4% view ADPD representation positively. On the other hand, Momentum enjoys its highest positive outlook in the South Eastern region with 35.8%, followed by the Northern region with 33%. Gozitan voters are the most sceptical of both small parties. Only 25.9% of Gozitan voters view ADPD representation posi- tively with an equal percentage who have negative feelings about such a prospect. Similarly, 22.5% of Gozitans view Mo- mentum's representation in parliament positively as opposed to 25.4% who have negative feelings. The survey also reveals that age is a cru- cial factor. While 45.6% of 16- to 35-year- olds view the election of a Green MP positively, the percentage drops to 31.8% among voters aged 65 and over. The same pattern is visible for Momentum. The larger share of voters who are un- sure about Momentum across all demo- graphics may also reflect the fact that the party is only one-year old and has never fielded candidates in any election so far. Its chairperson Arnold Cassola is a politi- cal veteran, who has contested local, gen- eral and European elections but not as a Momentum candidate. The numbers also suggest greater name recognition for ADPD, which has been around since 1989, having contested every general election since. ADPD has also fielded candidates in local elections with some success along the way. Third parties have not been elected to parliament on their own steam since the 1962 general election. The last coalition government dates back to the alliance between Paul Boffa's Malta Workers Par- ty and George Borg Olivier's Nationalist Party in the early 1950s. will win next general election 30 20 10 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Yes No Don't know Yes No Don't know 39 17.4 43.5 Do you think it would be good for Malta if ADPD is represented in parliament? Age Gender Region Education Current voters 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Yes (Good) No (Bad) Don't know Yes No Don't know 30.7 22.4 46.9 Do you think it would be good for Malta if Momentum is represented in parliament? Age Gender Region Education Current voters 70 60 This survey was conducted between Monday 23 February and Friday 6 March. The survey is based on a representative sample of 784. The sampling approach followed a stratified random design, ensuring proportional representation across key demographic variables such as age, gender, and locality. 'Don't knows' were allocated through a statistical imputation. At a 95% confidence level, the overall survey results carry a margin of error of ±3.5%. It is important to note that while the overall sample provides robust national-level estimates, the No Don't know 43.5 Age Gender Region Education Current voters 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Yes (Good) No (Bad) Don't know Yes No Don't know 30.7 22.4 46.9 Do you think it would be good for Malta if Momentum is represented in parliament? Age Gender Region Education Current voters 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ Yes (Good) No (Bad) Don't know