51 per cent trust the government

The number of people who trust the government has shot up by 11 per cent to reach 51 per cent, even though few Maltese expect their life to improve over the next year, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.

It is the first time that trust in the government has increased since the spring of 2003, despite the last survey having been carried out in the autumn shortly after the announcement of the fuel surcharge.

The degree of trust shown in their government by the Maltese is in stark contrast to the EU average of 31 per cent, with the twice-yearly EU survey indicating that the Maltese tend to be less cynical of institutions in general than other Europeans.

The detailed results of the Malta survey were given yesterday in a news conference held by the head of the EU permanent representation in Malta, Joanna Drake.

Of those questioned, 19 per cent said they expected the economic situation in the next year to remain the same, 55 per cent predicted it would get worse (EU average 39 per cent) and 13 per cent better.

Nearly a third (32 per cent) expect their financial situation to worsen and just eight per cent expect it to get better. By contrast, 19 per cent of EU residents expect their financial position to worsen and a quarter expect it to improve.

Asked for his interpretation of the figures, political analyst and historian Joe Pirotta said that while the improvement in people's trust in the government and their low expectations for the future appear conflicting, they reflect a trend in Malta.

"It shows that the government is doing its best possible in the circumstances and that people are realising that change comes at a short-term cost," he said.

Prof. Pirotta, however, also believes that the survey results bear the hallmark of the existence of a weak opposition, shorn of direction.

They also showed the Maltese were monitoring the overseas situation more than ever so they realised that certain trends and problems were common across Europe, he added.

The Eurobarometer survey also showed that trust in the Maltese Parliament has increased substantially, up to 51 per cent from 38 per cent. The Maltese, in fact, trust national institutions more than their European counterparts.

The army enjoys the widest support (81 per cent) while on the other end of the scale political parties only enjoy the trust of 29 per cent.

Still, this figure is 11 percentage points higher than the EU average.

The slide in support for EU membership among the Maltese has been halted: 43 per cent (up from 40 per cent) now acknowledge that membership of the bloc is a good thing. Just 18 per cent are against EU membership.

Asked what could have led to this improvement in public opinion, Dr Drake said the Maltese were possibly realising more than ever that the EU could be a major source of help. In fact, 55 per cent now say that Malta has benefited from being an EU member while 30 per cent say it has not.

Though it is lying in limbo, 60 per cent of respondents support the European Constitution, up from 50 per cent from the previous survey. Only 20 per cent are against it.

The Maltese evidently back the richer European countries for EU membership - support is biggest for Switzerland, followed by Norway and Iceland. Turkey, the most vociferous EU candidate, enjoys the support of only 39 per cent of the Maltese.

Five hundred people were interviewed for the survey.