Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/646116
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2016 12 MaltaToday Survey Owen Bonnici takes flak for magistrates' appointments Rate-The-Minister Survey Judging by the performance of its ministers in the latest Rate the Minister Survey, justice, home affairs and transport are the Labour government's Achilles' heel -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Edward Zammit Lewis Evarist Bartolo Edward Scicluna Konrad Mizzi Chris Cardona Helena Dalli Michael Farrugia George Vella Carmelo Abela Louis Grech Leo Brincat Anton Refalo Owen Bonnici Joe Mizzi Tourism minister Education minister Finance minister Energy minister Economy minister Civil liberties minister Social policy minister Foreign minister Home affairs minister Deputy PM Environment minister Gozo minister Justice minister Transport minister 62.2% 3.5% 32.9% -9.8% 88.8% 8.8% 51.3% 1.3% 21.9% -4.9% 74.8% 0.6% 48% 2.7% 16.4% -9.2% 74.8% 1.5% 43.6% -2.7% 11% -11% 74.8% -2.4% 42.1% -0.9% 13.7% -4.6 70.1% 0.1% 41.8% -0.2% 20.5% 1% 62.6% -1.6% 38.5% -1.8% 19.1% -4.1% 60.7% 1.8% 38.5% -9.5% 12.3% -14.7% 65.4% -7.1% 36% -5.3% 13.7% -9.5% 62.6% 0.1% 35.3% -1.4% 5.5% -9.1% 62.6% 1.8% 34.9% 4.9% 11% -3.6% 56.1% 2% 34.5% 1.2% 11% 0 58.9% 0.6% 33.8% -14.5% 6.8% -21.2% 62.6% -8.2% 14.6% -7.7% 2.7% -5.8% 31.8% -9% JAMES DEBONO THE latest controversy on judi- cial appointments has weighed heavily on Justice Minister Owen Bonnici's approval ratings. Bon- nici is registering a substantial dip in his ranking in the minis- ters' league table from third most positively rated minister in Octo- ber last year, to second least posi- tively rated now. Bonnici, widely viewed as one of Labour's more energetic min- isters who could be considered leadership material in the future, emerges weakened by a decision endorsed by the entire Cabinet. But although Bonnici has seen his approval ratings plummet, 30% of respondents judged his performance "so and so". Among Labour voters he get an approval rating of 63%, which is higher than that of Joe Mizzi, Leo Brin- cat, Anton Refalo and Michael Farrugia, and the same as that of Carmelo Abela. Carmelo Abela is another main casualty of the survey. Not only has his overall positive rating decreased by five points but his negative rating has increased by nine points. On the other hand the sur- vey confirms the government's strength in tourism, education and the economy, with Edward Zammit Lewis registering a four- point increase over October, to reach a strong approval rating of 62%. The survey was conducted among 450 respondents and con- ducted in the third week of Feb- ruary, when respondents were asked to rate each minister's per- formance. Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has been singled out for criticism for the nomination of Ingrid Zam- mit Young and Caroline Farrugia Frendo to become magistrates. Zammit Young has withdrawn her nomination because over the last three years she had served on the Employment Commission, which ruled her out constitu- tionally. But the government has pressed on with the nomination of Caroline Farrugia Frendo, the daughter of parliament's Speaker, Anglu Farrugia. Farrugia Frendo will achieve the seven-year expe- rience threshold needed for such an appointment only next month. The government now intends to change the way judges and mag- istrates are appointed. Owen Bonnici has not only seen his approval rating dip by 15 points among all respondents but also seen an eight point dip among Labour voters. The only Labour Minister to register a lower positive rating than Bonnici is Transport Minis- ter Joe Mizzi who has registered a further seven point dip from Oc- tober and has now touched rock Legend Positive rating (%) PL voters change (pp) Change over October 2015 (pp) PN voters (2013) rating PL voters (2013) rating PN voters change (pp) No change Pole position No change 2nd place Climbs three places Climbs one place Climbs two places Climbs three places Climbs four places Falls four places Falls ten places Climbs one place Climbs two places Climbs three places Climbs one place No change Bottom place Only 15% of respondents in MaltaToday's latest survey judge the performance of Joe Mizzi at transport as positive, down from 22% in October and 25% in 2014