Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546133
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 9 AUGUST 2026 SURVEY JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Euthanasia proposal enjoys majority T H E s e c o n d M a l t a - T o d a y s u r v e y s i n c e t h e govern- ment issued its White Paper proposing vol- untary assisted euthanasia indicates that half of Maltese respondents agree with assisted euthanasia. Respondents were asked whether persons suffering from a terminal illness and given six months to live by doctors should have the legal right to end their life with medical assistance, as proposed in a government con- sultation document last year. The survey shows that just under half of re- spondents (49.5%) agree with the proposal, 29.1% are op- posed, and a substantial 21.5% are still undecided. When considering the sur- vey's margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points, this means that support for the bill could range between 46% and 54%. This is roughly the same level of support registered in a similar MaltaToday survey held a year ago. Since then, the victorious La- bour Party has committed itself to holding a referendum on the topic as part of its 2026 electoral manifesto. As was the case last year, the 2026 survey shows that less than a third are opposed, but a fifth of the electorate are undecided on the issue. When the undecided are removed from the equation, support for euthanasia increases to 63%, which is close to a staggering two-thirds majority. But considering the difficult ethical dilemmas surrounding the argument, the undecided could still have a pivotal role in a future referendum on the subject. Political and generational divides The survey shows that an absolute majority of PL voters (55%) and a relative majority of PN voters (44%) support the introduction of voluntary assisted euthanasia. Compared to last year, support for eutha- nasia has increased by 13 points among PN voters but has decreased by seven points among PL voters. A relative majority of non-voters (47%) in the last general election also support eutha- nasia. Support for euthanasia among this category has dropped by three points. Although the survey suggests a greater po- litical convergence on the subject compared to last year, the survey shows that euthanasia remains a more divisive issue among PN vot- ers. The PN cohort includes a stronger mi- nority (35%) who are opposed to euthanasia for the terminally ill. The survey also shows a generational di- vide on euthanasia, with a relative majority of over-65-year-olds (45%) opposed to its in- troduction against 31% supporting it. On the other hand, support for euthanasia is highest among 36- to 50-year-olds (62%) and under-35-year-olds (57%). Support drops to 53% among 51- to 64-year-olds and to 31% among pensioners. Support for euthanasia is also stronger among those who con- tinued their studies after sec- ondary school, peaking at 61% among those with post-second- ary education and decreasing slightly to 52% among those with a tertiary education. In contrast, among those with only a secondary level of edu- cation, support falls to 48%. A relative majority (35%) of those with a primary education, a category which includes pensioners, are opposed. The survey also shows greater opposition to euthanasia among women. While only 26% of men oppose euthanasia and 54% are in favour, 32% of women oppose euthanasia and 45% support the proposal. Support highest in South-east, lowest in Gozo A relative majority supports the introduc- tion of euthanasia for the terminally ill in all six regions but varies from 44% in Gozo to 54% in the Labour-leaning South-east re- gion. In the North Harbour, which is the most populous, 53% support the introduc- tion of euthanasia for the terminally ill. The survey suggests a shift in opinion in Gozo, where a relative majority (48%) were opposed to euthanasia in last year's survey. Opposition to euthanasia in Gozo has now dropped to 25%. The breakdown by re- gion is only indicative, since it is based on a smaller sample and has a higher margin of error. What Malta thinks on euthanasia Should an adult suffering from a terminal illness and who has been given six months to live by doctors have the right to end their life with the assistance of a doctor? Yes No Don't know 49.5 29.1 21.5 Age 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ 56.9 24.5 18.6 61.2 16.7 22.1 52.6 27.7 19.7 30.5 45 24.6 Yes No Don't know Should an adult who has more than six months to live but is suffering from a degenerative disease such as ALS, which progressively weakens them until death, have the right to end their life with the assistance of a doctor? Yes No Don't know 47.2 30.8 22.1 Overall Overall Age 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 What Malta thinks on euthanasia Should an adult suffering from a terminal illness and who has been given six months to live by doctors have the right to end their life with the assistance of a doctor? Yes No Don't know 49.5 29.1 21.5 Age 100 90 80 70 6 0 50 40 30 20 10 0 16-35 36-50 51-65 65+ 56.9 24.5 18.6 61.2 16.7 22.1 52.6 27.7 19.7 30.5 45 24.6 Yes No Don't know Should an adult who has more than six months to live but is suffering from a degenerative disease such as ALS, which progressively weakens them until death, have the right to end their life with the assistance of a doctor? Yes No Don't know 47.2 30.8 22.1 Overall Overall Age 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 What Malta thinks on euthanasia Should an adult suffering from a terminal illness and who has been given six months to live by doctors have the right to end their life with the assistance of a doctor? Yes No Don't know 49.5 29.1 21.5 Religion 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Practicing Catholics Non-practicing Cath… Other Christian den… Islam Believes in God/No … Atheist/Agnostic Other Yes No Don't know Should an adult who has more than six months to live but is suffering from a degenerative disease such as ALS, which progressively weakens them until death, have the right to end their life with the assistance of a doctor? 47.2 30.8 22.1 Overall Overall Respondents by age Respondents by religion THE ALL-NEW B10 STARTING FROM €20,900* (*2025 GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND SCRAPPAGE SCHEME INCLUDED. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY).