Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/817563
10 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 APRIL 2017 MaltaToday Survey CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 IN an indication that a category of voters are reserving their judgment, the survey also shows a three-point increase in re- spondents who were undecided on who they trust most. The survey also shows Op- position leader Simon Busuttil enjoying his best trust rating since April 2016. As regards voting intentions, the survey shows the PN increasing its support by two points and Labour by 1.6 points. The survey also shows the PD, which has now joined a formal coalition with the PN, at 0.8 points. If the two parties retain the same com- bined support in an election, the gap be- tween the PN-PD coalition and PL would drop to just 2.7 points. The Greens, who are also engaged in coalition talks with the PN but have so far refused the offer to contest on the PN banner, also register 0.8 points. 8% of PL voters switching to PN The survey shows the PL leading by 3.6 points, down by half a point from last month. The difference is within the +/- 3.8 point margin of error which means that both parties may be in the lead. An extrapolation of the survey after eliminating 'don't knows' and non-voters would put the PL at 51.1% and the PN at 46%, a gap of 5.1 points, which would go down to four points when the PD is com- bined to the PN. But the survey confirms inroads made by the PN among Labour voters in the last election. While 8% of PL voters in 2013 will now vote PN, 4% of PN voters in 2013 will now vote Labour. This suggests that while the PN benefits from a swing in its favour, the PL still man- ages to win over a substantial number of voters from the PN's restricted 2013 core vote. Moreover Labour manages to retain 44% of switchers who voted Labour in 2013 but PN in 2008, while the PN recovers 28% of its support. But a substantial percentage of switchers (28%) remain up for grabs. The survey also confirms the existence of a new category of switchers, those who have voted Labour in 2008 and who have now switched to the PN. These amount to 3% of PL voters in the 2008 general elec- tion. The same amount also trusts Busuttil more than Muscat. For the first time Muscat not more popu- lar than his party While in the last survey carried out in March, Muscat was five points more popu- lar than his party, in this survey he is, like Busuttil, only one point more popular than his party. This indicates that Labour no longer has the comfort of having more space for fu- ture growth among that category of elec- tors who prefer Muscat to Busuttil, but who are not committed with regard to vot- ing intentions. It stands to be seen whether Muscat's fall from grace is a temporary snag or a sign of future decline for his par- ty. One positive indication for Labour is that while 39% of switchers trust Muscat, 44% of this strategic category will be voting La- bour again. This suggests that some voters may have lost their trust in Muscat but are still willing to vote for the PL. On the other hand Busuttil still registers the same level of support as his party among switchers. Compared to last month, Busuttil has consolidated his position among PN voters in 2013 to the extent that the percentage of these voters who trust him has gone up from 82% to 85% in the past month. On the other hand Muscat has seen the percent- age of those who trust him among Labour voters decline from 78% to 74%. Among switchers the percentage of those who trust Muscat has dropped from 48% to 39% while Busuttil has seen his trust rating in this category increase from 25% to 28%. The survey confirms that despite the recent scandals Muscat is still trusted by 5% of PN voters in 2013. But in an indica- tion that Busuttil has struck a chord with a category of traditional PL voters, 4% of PL voters in 2008 trust Busuttil more than Muscat. Labour still leads by four po MataToday Survey shows Labour losing 8% of its 2013 votes to PN, and PN losing 4% of its 2013 votes to PL JAMES DEBONO 1.6pp 2pp -0.3pp 0pp -0.3pp n/c -1pp 0.7pp -2.7pp CHANGE OVER NOVEMBER 2016 0.8% 0.8% 0.5% 0 7.6% 11.3% 9.8% AD PD Patriots Others Not voting Don't know No reply 36.4% 32.8% PL PN For which political party would you vote if an election were held tomorrow? Labour manages to retain 44% of switchers who voted Labour in 2013 but PN in 2008, while the PN recovers 28% of its support. But a substantial percentage of switchers (28%) remain up for grabs Big rivals: Simon Busuttil (centre) is gunning for the Prime Minister, who has enjoyed high trust levels even in the Panama aftermath