Survey shows just 62 per cent will vote in EP elections

No fewer than 38 per cent of the Maltese electorate intend keeping away from the polling booths on June 12, according to a Eurobarometer survey published yesterday.

Still, the turnout figure is far higher than the 45 per cent average that the survey estimates will turn out in the European elections across the 25 EU countries. The figure is based on voters who declare themselves "certain to vote".

With two weeks to go before the elections, it is evident that the European Parliament still has a lot of work to do to mobilise voters.

Predicted turnout across the EU-25 is highest in Belgium, with 76 per cent, Luxembourg at 73 per cent, Cyprus at 67 per cent, Greece at 66 per cent and Malta at 62 per cent.

At the lower end of the scale, just 26 per cent of Estonians said they would vote, while a mere 20 per cent of Czechs signalled their intention to do so.

The Maltese survey was carried out between May 5 - 12 with a sample of about 500.

Opposition leader Alfred Sant appears to be driving his message home about the contentious issues of pensions and unemployment.

No fewer than 67 per cent of Maltese said the electoral campaign should concentrate on unemployment, way above the EU 25 average of 51 per cent. And 43 per cent hinged the campaign on the future of pensions, again above the EU average of 29 per cent.

A total of 41 per cent said the campaign should focus on the protection of the environment (EU25 average 22 per cent) and 31 per cent said it should concentrate on economic growth (EU average 34 per cent).

Over three-quarters of the Maltese believe the "personality of the candidates" is an essential element to mobilise voters (EU average 57 per cent). The stand of candidates on national issues was deemed important by 81 per cent of those surveyed.

The majority of those who expressed their intention not to vote (51 per cent) said they had decided so because they believed their vote would not change anything. Forty-seven per cent said they believe the European Parliament does not sufficiently deal with problems that concern them.

A total of 20 per cent of the Maltese respondents said they would refrain from voting because they were against Europe, the EU and the European construction.

Asked for their opinions about the EU and the European Parliament, a total of 67 per cent feel that Malta's membership of the EU is a good thing - which is 10 per cent less than the EU average.

A total of 59 per cent feel they can trust European institutions and 68 per cent "feel attached" to Europe.

Two-thirds of the Maltese feel they have all the necessary information in order to choose whom to vote for in the elections, by far exceeding the EU average of 35 per cent.

The Maltese were clearly knowledgeable on EU affairs. Sixty five per cent knew how many countries belonged to the EU after the last enlargement, substantially higher than the 40 per cent EU average.

Just 16 per cent did not know the date of the EP elections - a stark difference to the 51 per cent EU average. Another 11 per cent of the Maltese that claimed to know the right date, actually gave the wrong answer.

Commenting on the survey, European Parliament president Pat Cox made an appeal to voters to participate in the elections.

"My message today to voters from Lisbon to Liverpool and Ljubljana is clear. In June you can send someone to the European Parliament who can influence things that influence your daily life - in job creation, in different sectors of the economy, in your environment, in your rights as a citizen and as a consumer.

"Does it matter to you that you send someone to do what you want? If it does: participate, this is your ownership of your Europe."

Air Malta is offering subsidised tickets to Maltese people living abroad who would like to vote in the elections. However, civil aviation sources said yesterday that no extra flights would be laid on and tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.