Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/244624
6 News maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2014 Kate Gonzi gets thumbs JAMES DEBONO A MaltaToday survey held in the past week shows that 57% of respondents would like government to break with tradition and appoint a president with no partisan affiliation. But when asked who they wish to be their next President, only 1.3% mentioned a candidate hailing from civil society. The survey confirmed the popularity of current President George Abela, whose performance is judged positively by a massive 93%. His term ends in 2014. Respondents were asked to name someone who would be ideal to occupy the role of president. Respondents were not prompted by any names. The survey shows Kate Gonzi as the most mentioned name, followed by her husband Lawrence Gonzi, mainly thanks to the convergence of Nationalist voters around these two names. On the other hand, Labour voters were more fragmented in their choices, with Edwin Grech – former minister and father of Karen Grech, murdered by letter bomb in 1986 – emerging as the most favoured candidate among Labour voters. Grech is closely followed by former Speaker of the House Miriam Spiteri Debono and foreign minister George Vella. Interestingly, 4.4% of Labour voters favour the appointment of Lawrence or Kate Gonzi. Only 1.3% opted for a name with no partisan affiliations. These included Din l-Art Helwa president Simone Mizzi, former European Court of Human Courts Judge Giovanni Bonello (who is ineligible due to his post in the judiciary) and Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech. Three percent opted for the reconfirmation of George Abela, something which would require a change in the Constitution as presidents presently can only serve one term. Respondents were not given a choice of names and were asked to name someone spontaneously. Forty eight percent could not name anyone. Among Labour voters, 61% could not mention a name. A president from civil society? The survey shows that only 16% would like the next president to hail from the party in government, as Kate Gonzi SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS • Kate Gonzi favoured by Nationalist voters as next President • Labour voters split between Edwin Grech, George Vella and Miriam Spiteri Debono • Although 57% prefer a non-partisan President, only 1.3% mention a non-partisan name • 65% indifferent on whether the next President should be a man or a woman • 93% judge President George Abela's performance positively was normal practice between 1976 and 2009 before Lawrence Gonzi appointed George Abela, a former Labour deputy leader who had fallen out with former Labour leader Alfred Sant. Abela was also a leadership contender in 2008, when he emerged as the second most preferred choice after Joseph Muscat. Nationalist administrations between 1987 and 2008 had always appointed top party stalwarts, namely Censu Tabone, Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Guido de Marco and Eddie Fenech Adami. With the exception of chief justice emeritus Sir Anthony Mamo, Dom Mintoff also appointed party stalwarts as presidents. These included Anton Buttigieg and Agatha Barbara. Only 16% would like the next president to hail from the Nationalist political camp, as requested by Op- From the top: Lawrence Gonzi, George Vella, Edwin Grech and Miriam Spiteri Debono