Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/685992
5 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 1 JUNE 2016 News According to how respondents voted in 2013 PN voters in 2013 PL voters in 2013 Switchers in 2013 3.5% 77.6% 16.7% 84% 5.1% 4.2% 2% 8.3% 15.3% Trust Barometer May 2016 All respondents [change over April 2016] 39.8% (-2.8p) 10.4% (+3.7p) 17.2% (+2.1p) Methodology The survey was held between Monday 23 and Thursday 26 May. The results were weighed to reflect the age and gender balance of the population. 821 respondents were contacted. 500 respondents accepted to participate in the survey. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.3 points. For which party respondents said they voted in 2013 PL 42.5% PN 31.2% AD 1.5% Didn't vote 5.9% Under-18 2.2% No reply 16.7% 32.6% (-3p) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 For which political party would you vote if an election were held tomorrow? -3.8p -2.8p +1p +1.5p -0.8p -0.1p +2.6p +2.4p CHANGE OVER APRIL 31% 29.9% 2.2% 1.5% 0.4% 11.1% 12.8% 11.1% PL PN AD MF Others Not voting Don't know No reply ALL RESPONDENTS MF=Marlene Farrugia 12.5% 8.3% 62.5% read with caution due to the small sample of switchers available in the survey, the indication is that this category remains difficult territory for the PN. Gains for third parties The survey registers small gains for AD (up to 2.2% from 1.2%) and the emergence of Marlene Farrugia's embryonic new par- ty mentioned by nearly 2% of voters. 0.4% opted for far right formations. A breakdown of Farrugia's vote base by past voting intentions suggests that the new party is getting most of its support from past PN voters. While 57% voted PN in 2013, 14% voted AD and the rest did not vote. On the other hand only 10% of AD's current voters had voted PN in 2013, 50% had voted AD and 20% had voted Labour. Due to the minuscule samples involved such figures must be read with caution. The indication given by this survey is that Farrugia's party seems to be penalis- ing the PN more than the PL, by tapping into its vote base. Still the vast majority of Farrugia's voters (71%) declare having no trust in either leader, which suggests that it is not automatic that they would vote PN in the absence of Farrugia's par- ty. The survey also suggests that AD has managed to keep most of its past voters despite growing competition in the third party sector. While the survey suggests a small increase for third parties, these parties are still dwarfed by the non-voters category, which is 11% strong.