Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544987
IN a head-to-head confronta- tion, Robert Abela is trusted with running the country by 43.5% of voters, against 36.4% who trust Alex Borg. The gap between the two leaders (7.1 points) is now only slightly higher than that between the two parties (6.3 points). Compared to MaltaToday's March survey, both leaders have seen a small decrease in their trust rating amidst a two-point increase of those who trust neither leader. But while Abela loses 0.6 points, Borg loses 1.3 points. The survey also shows that both lead- ers are trusted by the vast majority of their respective party voters—while 96.9% of current PL voters trust Abela, 99.2% of PN voters trust Borg. Abela's trust rating among PL voters has only increased by two points since March, while Borg's trust rating among PN voters has shot up by a whop- ping 12 points. This suggest that the Nationalist campaign focussed on Alex Borg has ral- lied the party voting base be- hind the leader. But worryingly for the PN, the survey still shows that cur- rent non-voters are more likely to trust Abela than Borg. While the vast majority of them (71.2%) trust neither of the two leaders, only 8.1% trust Borg while 20.7% trust Abela. This suggests that Labour has more room to grow if it succeeds in persuading disengaged voters who trust Abela more than Borg, to go out and vote. The survey shows both lead- ers making some inroads among 2022 election voters of the opposing party. While 7.6 % of PL voters in 2022 now trust Borg, 6% of PN voters trust Abela. The percentage of former PN voters who trust Abela (6%) is double the per- centage who actually shift to the PL (3.3%). This also means that Labour may have room to grow among this category of lukewarm pale blue voters. Abela and Borg lead in three regions each As has been the trend in previous surveys Abela is lead- ing Borg by very sub- stantial margins in the South-eastern re- gion (31.4 points) and the South Harbour (16.8points). Significantly, Abela also leads by nine points in the tradition- ally PN-leaning North Har- mt SURVEY SUNDAY • 17 MAY 2026 | maltatoday THE ALL-NEW B10 STARTING FROM €20,900* (*2025 GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND SCRAPPAGE SCHEME INCLUDED. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY). Trust barometer: Abela has 20.0% 10.0% 0 PL 2022 PN 2022 No vote 2022 6% 2.5% 11.3% 3.3% 3.3% 15% 8.1% 16.7% 6.4% PL PN Others Will not vote Current voters 110% 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 Current PL voters Current PN voters Current non voters 96.9% 1.1% 1.9% 0.1% 99.2% 0.7% 20.7% 8.1% 71.2% Robert Abela Alex Borg None Trust Barometer Profile of non-voters Age Gender Region Education 2022 Voters 35% 30% Robert Abela Alex Borg None 0 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 43.5% 36.4% 20.1% All Voters JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt PL PN Others Will not vote Age 120% 110% 100% 90% 80% 70% 6 0% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ 41.7% 34.6% 23.7% 40% 35.5% 24.5% 46% 33.9% 20.1% 46.7% 40.7% 12.6% Robert Abela Alex Borg None Trust Barometer Profile of non-voters Age Gender Region Education 2022 Voters 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ 25.3% 27.9% 22.9% 15% Robert Abela Alex Borg None 0 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 43.5% 36.4% 20.1% All Voters This survey was conducted between Thursday 30 April and Wednesday 13 May. The survey is based on a representative sample of 1408 respondents . The sampling 70.0% 60.0% 50.0% 40.0% 30.0% 20.0% 10.0% 0 Northern N. Harbour S. Eastern S. Harbour Western Gozo PL PN Other Will not Vote Region 120% 110% 100% 90% 80% 7 0% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0 Northern N. Harbour S. Eastern S. Harbour Western Gozo 34.7% 37.5% 27.7% 44.4% 35.4% 20.2% 57.8% 26.4% 15.9% 51.4% 34.6% 14.1% 34.4% 42.6% 23.1% 34.9% 44.5% 20.6% Robert Abela Alex Borg None Trust Barometer Profile of non-voters Age Gender Region Education 2022 Voters 35% 30% 25% 20% 28.6% 23.9% 19.5% 26.8% 22.3% Robert Abela Alex Borg None 0 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 43.5% 36.4% 20.1% All Voters Alex vs Robert: Based on age Alex vs Robert: Based on region The survey shows both leaders making some inroads among 2022 election voters of the opposing party