Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/191652
10 mt survey maltatoday, SUNDAY, 13 OCTOBER 2013 Rating the ministers 61.1% 53.2% 50.6% 50.6% 49.4% 46.8% 44.1% 42.6% 42.3% 42.3% 41. Joseph Muscat: 51% approve his performance Marie Louise Coleiro Preca: Labour's star minister PL Voters PN Voters Switchers All Positive 88 27.5 70.8 61.1 Negative 3.4 31.9 12.5 11.3 So-So 4.3 27.5 12.5 11.7 61.1% Don't Know 4.3 13.1 4.2 15.9 *Switchers are voters who voted PN in 2008 and voted PL in 2013 Following an election marked by the rise of star candidates transplanted from the PN directly to Muscat's new Labour, it is an authentic Labourite who emerged as the new government's best performing minister. She managed to overtake the second-place finisher, Konrad Mizzi, by eight points and her leader, Joseph Muscat, by 10. Moreover, Coleiro Preca also emerged as the most positively rated Labour minister among PN voters, 28% of whom deemed her performance to be positive. The Social Policy Minister has recently announced the establishment of family resource centres, which will provide a variety of support services in the community. The national strategy to combat poverty will also be finalised by the end of the year. PL Voters PN Voters Positive 5.8 56 50.6 1.7 24.6 8 14.7 So-So 50.6% 83.8 Negative Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is the only cabinet member whose performance was assessed in previous surveys held after the election. The survey suggests that Muscat has managed to recover some of the support he had lost before the summer lull. Over the past months, Muscat took an aggressive stance on the migration issue, which culminated in his decision to "consider" pushing back migrants to Libya. He also repeatedly dismissed widespread criticism over various appointments of Labour activists in key positions. But despite increased criticism from a more bellicose opposition and other quarters, the number of respondents who assessed Muscat's performance positively increased by nine points. Switchers* All 12 34.8 36 23.4 Don't Know 2.5 34.8 0 11.3 Significantly, for the first time since April, he managed to surpass the 50% mark, with his performance now deemed to be positive by nearly 51% of respondents. But the survey also showed the number of respondents judging his performance negatively increasing from 8% to 15%, mainly thanks to increased hostility amongst PN voters. But the survey also showed that 12% of Labour voters and 36% of switchers judge his performance as "so-so", which indicates an element of dissatisfaction in both categories. Nearly a tenth of switchers also judge his performance negatively. This suggests that the new government already dissatisfies a portion of the voters who switched sides in the last election. In September 2008, Lawrence Gonzi's performance as Prime Minister was deemed a positive one by 41%. Konrad Mizzi: still popular despite ethical slip How do you assess Joseph Muscat's performance as Prime Minister? PL Voters PN Voters All Positive 86.3 17.4 75 53.2 Negative 53.2% Switchers 2.6 46.4 4.2 17.9 So-So 7.7 26.1 20.8 16.2 Don't Know 3.4 10.1 0 12.7 Despite accusations of nepotism following the direct appointment of his wife, Sai Mizzi Liang, as a Malta Enterprise Envoy, 53% of respondents still assessed Mizzi's performance positively. He also emerged as the most popular minister among switchers, 75% of whom deemed his performance to be positive. This suggests that Mizzi, who is presiding over the partial privatisation of Enemalta – and the awarding of a tender to a private company which will have a monopoly on Malta's gas supply for 18 years – still enjoys the goodwill of the electorate. It also suggests that the electorate has warmed up to a politician who distinguished himself as Labour's energy guru during the electoral campaign. Although Mizzi's performance was deemed a negative one by 46% of PN voters, in this category 17% also judged his performance positively. But Mizzi's positive rating suggests high expectations over Labour's energy plan, which could be a do-or-die issue for the minister. Karmenu Vella; the respected veteran PL Voters PN Voters All Positive 79.5 15.9 62.5 50.6 Negative 50.6% Switchers 0.9 24.6 0 8.7 So-So 13.7 42 33.3 20.8 Don't Know 5.9 17.5 4.2 19.9 Veteran Minister Karmenu Vella, who is one of the two present cabinet members to have previously served (in the cabinets presided over by Alfred Sant, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Dom Mintoff), emerged as the third-most positively rated minister in Muscat's cabinet, enjoying the same positive rating as the Prime Minister. Vella's performance was also deemed to be positive by 16% of PN voters and 63% of switchers. The Minister has largely avoided controversy and has build on the successes of his predecessor, Mario De Marco, who registered the highest rating, 53%, in the last Rate the Minister survey. This suggests that the electorate views tourism as a strategic sector and values its successes. Positive Negative So-So Don't know April 59 5.6 13.4 21.9 June 46.4 9.5 28.7 15.5 July 42.1 8.4 26.3 23.2 Oct 50.6 14.7 23.4 11.3 Evarist Bartolo: runnerup among PN voters Change from July +8.5 +6.3 -2.9 -11.9 PL Voters PN Voters All 74.4 21.7 45.8 49.4 Negative 49.4% Switchers Positive In his second term as Education Minister, Bartolo got the fourth-highest positive rating. His performance was also deemed to be positive by 22% of PN voters – the second-best result for a Labour minister among this category of voters. The survey coincided with the opening of the scholastic year, a difficult period for education ministers, who have to deal with complaints from parents over logistical issues. Bartolo has so far steered 6 40.6 29.2 16.6 So-So 13.7 20.3 25 15.5 Don't Know 5.9 17.4 0 18.5 clear of political controversy and has involved parents in a consultation process on school reforms, while launching a co-ed school in Pembroke. Joe Mizzi: the bendy bus factor Mizzi's most notable decision so far was his decision to suspend bendy buses from Maltese roads following a number of mysterious fires. He also distinguished himself by embarking on ministerial inspections at a number of bus stops. But so far there has been little improvement in the public transport system, a concern affecting a minority in a nation of multiple car owners. Mizzi's down-to-earth approach seems to have been appreciated by As Minister of Education, Bartolo managed to get a higher rating than his predecessor, Dolores Cristina, whose performance was deemed a positive one by 42% in 2012. PL Voters PN Voters All 72.6 18.8 50 46.8 Negative 46.8% Switchers Positive 3.4 39.1 8.3 14 So-So 17.9 27.5 37.5 20.4 Don't Know 6.1 14.6 4.2 18.8 a significant part of the electorate. In fact he emerged as the fifth most positively rated minister in the cabinet. He also got a positive rating from nearly 19% of PN voters. Only 14% of respondents described his perform- ance as a negative one. As Transport Minister, Mizzi is definitely more popular than his predecessor, Austin Gatt, whose performance was only deemed positive by 16% in 2012.