Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/827430
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 Newspaper post PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION WEDNESDAY • 24 MAY 2017 • ISSUE 533 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY PAGE 3 ELECTIONS DAYS TO GO 10 Burnt to the ground The extent of the damage caused by a blazing inferno that struck the Sant'Antnin recycling plant in Marsascala on Monday, became clear as the huge plumes of smoke slowly died down to reveal the mayhem left behind. Malta 'may be used for aggressive tax planning', says EC report MAT THEW VELLA THE ability of Malta's rela- tively small regulator to oversee its large financial services industry, in par- ticular in the insurance sector but also in banking, is under pressure, the Eu- ropean Commission said in its recommendations for the European Semester. The recommendations were part of a report that found a buoyant economy in Malta, as well as improved public finances and in- creased job growth. According to the EC, Malta's financial system remain characterised by a significant number of for- eign institutions attracted, among other factors, by the favourable tax environment – which was the focus this week of the Malta Files. 43.3% of floating voters undecided JAMES DEBONO 43.3% of those who have switched from one party to another party more than once are still claim- ing they are undecided while a further 8% of this category did not reply when asked for their voting intentions. According to MaltaToday's latest survey, more than one in ten voters (12%) belong to this catego- ry of floating voters who have no loyalty towards a particular party. In this category Labour enjoys a one-point lead over the PN-PD coalition. But Labour enjoys a substantial 18-point major- ity among those who have only switched once. Among this category 24% are undecided and 8% did not reply. Voters who voted PN in 2008 and PL in 2013 ap- pear in both categories. 37% switched only once while 63% switched more than once. Overall vot- ers who have only switched once (not necessarily in the 2013 election) represent 8% of voters accord- ing to the survey. On the other hand the percentage of undecided voters is very low among voters who have been always loyal to their party of choice. Only 5% of these voters are undecided while 6% refused to re- veal their voting intention. In this category Labour enjoys a three-point lead. The survey suggests that floating voters claiming they are presently undecided may have a deter- mining say on who will win the election on 3 June.