Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/176463
13 Survey maltatoday, SUNDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2013 Religion is more important to those aged 55 and over Tenor Joseph Calleja is seen as Malta's best export to the world Italy remains Malta's cultural reference point Majority favour citizenship for migrants' children Should children of migrants who were brought up and attended school in Malta be automatically granted citizenship? Which country do you like most for its culture? Italy UK Australia USA France Germany China Spain Switzerland Others None PN 50.7 16.9 4.2 48.6 41.1 10.3 Agreement with granting citizenship to children of migrants: 38.3 22 7.1 3.8 2.3 2 2 1.5 1.5 12 7.5 University educated 58.5 Post Secondary educated 37.5 Secondary educated 47.9 Primary educated 50 PN voters 60.6 PL voters 40.5 Did not disclose vote 54 Favourite nation by political affiliation: Italy UK Australia Yes No Don't Know PL 41.3 20 11.9 In what appears as a vindication of early Maltese nationalism shaped around the concept of italianità, which saw Malta as an integral part of the Italian motherland, Italy emerges as the favourite cultural influence on the Maltese. But probably this can be attributed to the geographic proximity, the influence of television and Italy's reputation as a cultural destination. Former colonial ruler Britain is only a distant second. What is most surprising is that 7% of respondents admire Australia, a country which hosts the largest Maltese community outside the archipelago but which is not normally admired for its culture. In a reflection of past historical patterns, Italy is viewed more favourably among Nationalist voters. But defying past trends, Labour voters also tend to look up more to Italy than to the UK when it comes to culture. On the other hand, Labour voters are more likely to look Down Under for their cultural inspiration. The Maltese remain largely Eurocentric in their cultural reference points, although a small number refer to the US and even China. Francophones emerge as a very small minority. Despite the increase in xenophobia highlighted with widespread hostility towards migrants, a relative majority of respondents agree with granting citizenship to the children of migrants who have completed their school cycle in Malta. This suggests that Maltese sense of national identity, which is largely culturally, than racially defined, is rather inclusive, and reflects Malta's history as an island which absorbed people from different ethnic backgrounds. But in a reflection of a widening ideological divide on migration issues, while 61% of Nationalist voters in the last general election favour granting citizenship to children of migrants, only 41% of Labour voters agree. But 54% of voters who did not disclose their vote in the last election favour granting citizenship, which suggests that people with weaker political loyalties are more, open to migration. Significantly while university educated respondents are the most likely to agree with granting citizenship to migrant's children, post-secondary educated (all those who have followed a post-secondary vocational or academic course short of university) are the most hostile to the idea of granting citizenship. Malta presently practices a very restrictive policy on granting citizenship to people who have worked and lived in Malta for years. Naturalisation is the only avenue to citizenship for foreign residents without Maltese ancestry. Only 2,401 persons have acquired citizenship through naturalisation since 1991. A report by the European Union Democracy Observatory (EUDO) citizenship observatory states that the acquisition of citizenship by naturalisation in Malta is overshadowed by the "singular non-reviewable discretion" which the home affairs minister enjoys in decisions on each case. Pride in Kinnie Which is the most successful Maltese product? % Kinnie 15.1 Tomato paste (kunserva) 13.7 Cisk Lager/Maltese beers 12.3 Fresh tomatoes 8.9 Other fresh agricultural products 7.7 Dairy products 7.3 Twistees 6.9 Wine 5.7 Maltese bread 3.4 Pastizzi 3.4 Gbejniet 2.1 Honey 2.1 Other 11.4 Kinnie, a bitter-sweet soft drink which owes its taste to Maltese bitter oranges, first produced in 1952 by Simonds Farsons and now viewed as the most successful national product by 15% of respondents. Kinnie's main rival is the tomato in both its processed form and natural form. But the third place goes to another Simonds Farsons product – Cisk Lager and other Maltese beers. Clearly Maltese beer is valued more than Maltese wine, which is mentioned by just 6% of respondents as Malta's best produce. Twistees, the iconic cheesy snack produced by Darrell Lee products, is mentioned by 7%. Surprisingly only 3% mention staples like Maltese bread and pastizzi as being Malta's best produce. On the other hand 17% mentioned some form of agricultural product, like potatoes. Pasta-crazy nation Which are your two favourite dishes? Pasta Rabbit Fish Meat Baked Macaroni Pizza Minestra Baked potatoes Lasagna Chicken Hobz biz-zejt Vegetables/salads Soups/broth Chinese Fast Food % 43.4 28.3 24 12.9 11.4 11.4 8.3 5 5 5 4 4 2.9 2.9 2.9 Total is greater than 100 because respondents were asked to mention two dishes In a clear indication of Italian culinary influence, Malta's favourite dish is pasta. In fact 60% of respondents mentioned a pasta dish, either pasta in general or baked macaroni or lasagne. Rabbit – a Maltese traditional dish – comes a distant second followed by fish, which is preferred to meat dishes. Despite the proliferation of ethnic cuisine restaurants, most respondents expressed a preference to traditional Mediterranean fare. Another casualty are vegetables and salads, although a sizeable 8% consider minestra, a traditional vegetable soup, as their favourite dish. Pizza, another Italian influence is a favourite for 11%. And despite the popularity of junk food, both in the form of big macs and cheesecakes, a small minority of respondents only mentioned this kind of food. Methodology The survey was conducted between Monday 26 August and Thursday 29 August. 652 respondents were contacted by telephone. 400 accepted to be interviewed. The results were weighed to reflect the age and sex balance in the general population. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.9%.