Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/753405
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2016 12 Rate the Minister Chris Fearne Evarist Bartolo Edward Zammit Lewis Edward Scicluna George Vella Louis Grech Helena Dalli Michael Farrugia Owen Bonnici Chris Cardona Carmelo Abela Anton Refalo José Herrera* Konrad Mizzi Manuel Mallia Joe Mizzi 76.1% 75.2% 78% 79% 73.4% 76.1% 0 1pp -2pp 5.7pp 0.9pp 15.3pp 34.4% 27.9% 26.4% 23.5% 22.1% 0 1.1pp -16.2pp -2.1pp -5.9pp 67% 2.8pp 59.6% 63.3% 65.1% 59.6% 51.4% 51.4% 55% 49.5% 45% -2.9pp -7.5pp -4.9pp -2.9pp -6.9pp -2.7pp -22.2pp 0 4.2pp PN voters PL voters Change (pp) Ministers' ratings according to party allegiance 17.6% 17.6% 20.5% 19.1% 10.2% 13.2% 11.8% 11.8% 5.9% 11.8% 7.4% 3pp -1.9pp -2.7pp -8.9pp -8.1pp -10pp 1.8pp -2.8pp -8pp 0 -1.1pp cohort Mizzi remains more pop- ular than José Herrera, Anton Refalo, Manwel Mallia and Joe Mizzi. Among PN voters Konrad Mizzi is the least popular Minis- ter. Environment minister José Herrera retained the same posi- tive rating as Leo Brincat in last year's survey (30%) but saw the percentage of respondents who judge his performance negatively increase by two points. Survey confirms 'feel-good' factor on economy On the other hand, after the budget finance minister Edward Scicluna has seen his positive rating rise by three points over last year, 14 points over 2014. Despite holding what is tradi- tionally seen as the most unpop- ular portfolios, Scicluna is now the fourth most popular min- ister, surpassing social solidar- ity minister Michael Farrugia, justice minister Owen Bonnici, civil liberties minister Helena Dalli and home affairs minister Carmelo Abela. Under the pre- vious (Gonzi) administration, finance minister Tonio Fenech was consistently the second least popular PN minister after trans- port and infrastructure minister Austin Gatt. Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis may have stum- bled over Air Malta but still re- tains his position among the top brass. Zammit Lewis's popularity indicates the general satisfaction with the tourism sector. Chris Fearne's and Evarist Bartolo's strong positive ratings of 52% and 51% indicate that the gov- ernment is delivering on health and education. But with an approval rate of just 38% social solidarity min- ister Michael Farrugia remains far behind Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who as social solidarity minister was Labour's most pop- ular minister. Other laggards in the Cabinet are Carmelo Abela, who lost sev- en points over last year's survey, and Anton Refalo, who lost three points over last year. In an indi- cation of the ambiguous nature of his ministry, 30% replied don't know when asked about Refalo's performance. In a sign of deterioration over last year, six ministers improved their positive ratings while eight ministers have lost points. Dep- uty prime minister Louis Grech saw the greatest increase in positive rating (10 points), while Konrad Mizzi has seen the great- est dip (-18 points). Owen Bonnici was the other main casualty, losing 11 points over last year, seeing his positive rating decline by 13 points over two years, slipping from third to ninth place. The only woman minister, civil liberties minis- ter Helena Dalli, has remained stable in sixth place after being judged positively by 41%. Methodology The survey was held between Monday 7 and Thursday, 10 No- vember. The results were weighed to reflect the age and gender bal- ance of the population. 881 re- spondents were contacted. 500 respondents accepted to partici- pate in the survey. The survey has a margin of error of +/-4.3 points Owen Bonnici was the other main casualty, losing 11 points over last year, seeing his positive rating decline by 13 points over two years, slipping from third to ninth place Joe Mizzi Konrad Mizzi Manuel Mallia Jose Herrera Anton Refalo Owen Bonnici Chris Cardona Edward Scicluna Helena Dalli Carmelo Abela Michael Farrugia Edward Zammit Lewis Chris Fearne George Vella Evarist Bartolo Louis Grech 37.2% 31.6% 18.9% 18.5% 16.9% 16.9% 14.4% 14% 13.6% 13.2% 13.2% 12.8% 12.3% 11.9% 11.5% 10.3% 3.5pp 11.6pp 2.2pp 1.1pp 6.9pp -0.9pp 1.3pp 1.3pp 1.2pp 3.2pp 0.5pp 4pp -1.2pp 2.6pp Most negatively rated