Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Record number of voters to stay at home - poll
The European Parliament elections in June may set a record for the lowest voter turnout: Only 56 per cent of the Maltese intend to cast their vote, according to a new survey.
The preliminary results of the still unpublished Eurobarometer poll, conducted across the 27 EU member states last February, show that a record 44 per cent of Maltese eligible voters are not interested in voting in the EP elections.
Although the final turnout may be pushed higher in the coming weeks, as the main political parties shift into top gear in their respective campaigns, it will be difficult to emulate the turnout of the 2004 elections when 82 per cent cast their vote.
Five years ago Malta had the highest turnout among the 25 member states where the elections were held then, even though it was still much lower than the average turnout in a Maltese general election.
Even with a dramatic drop of 26 per cent signalled by the Eurobarometer survey, Malta would again be one of the best performers in Europe in June. Only in Luxembourg and Belgium, where voting is mandatory, is the turnout expected to be higher than Malta's.
The only other member state where voting is voluntary but where votes are cast in relatively high numbers is Denmark, with 56 per cent.
Only 34 per cent of all European eligible voters said they intended to vote in June. The least keen were the Polish at just 17 per cent, followed by Austria (21 per cent), the UK (22 per cent) and Portugal (24 per cent).
When it comes to general elections, Malta has one of the highest voting turnouts in the world. Even this, however, seems to be changing albeit at a much slower pace than in other countries. At 92.2 per cent, last year's general election turnout was the worst since 1971.
13 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
David Meilak
Apr 15th 2009, 20:43
Even if only 1000 people vote.............there are still going to be 5 (6) MEP's elected.............so if you stay at home you would have lost the opportunity to have your say in the choice of MEP's. It is your right to have your say in who goes to represent you in the EU. Its your choice.
It is so easy to let everyone else make your choices in life...........
daV
Margaret Richards
Apr 15th 2009, 20:27
I would like to ask one simple question. Doesn't anything positive happen in this country? I've been following day after day all the comments. And I do comment myself, but not only negatively which i do constructlvely but even positively, something which is non-existant on the Comments by readers. To those so much against EU, how ignorant can you continue to be?? Don't you think that there are some very positive aspects why other countries want to join in? We are lucky we were not like Iceland as otherwise you'd be grumbling much more. We're lucky to be in the EUROZONE and in the SCHENGEN ZONE. Maltese ignorance blinds me. Don't you know that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights give people the Right to Vote and the Freedom to vote according to you beliefs. By not voting you will only show your mediocrity. I'll be voting EPP because they performed consistently. And please do realise that the immigration is a global problem. Try reading the book State of World Refugees, instead of moaning and groaning.
D Ellul
Apr 15th 2009, 19:28
Not voting is not the answer. If you don't express your opinions, you will become irrelevant eventually. For sure, in these elections there should be at least one or two candidates that you like. I will be voting for the young Labour MEP's as they seem enthusiastic and willing to work, so a vote for Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace or Dr Christian Zammit will not be a wasted vote.
victor caruana
Apr 15th 2009, 16:48
Why vote for an exercise in irrelevance. Don't you ever be taken in by claims of pressuring the Eu monster to take action in your favour. A quote from the Economist:
Quote "it is for big countries to take the initiative in Europe. In other words:small countries pipe down.....the Lisbon Treaty's full-time president hold the answer. It would sweep away the 'Welcome to Lilliput' aspects of the EU" (page 31 last issue).
You and your eu!!!!!!!!!!
apgrech
Apr 15th 2009, 14:45
Non voting is an irresponsible decision. I'll be voting for Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace because from what I saw, he is a caring and enthusiastic person and that's the type of people we need to represent us. He is also young and I have lots of faith in the younger generation.
lgalea
Apr 15th 2009, 14:20
By abstaining the message will not get across.
They will simply say that you are not interested.
GO to vote for your party/candidates and then WRITE YOUR MESSAGE ON YOUR VOTE.
SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO THE POLITICANS AND THE EU.
That is the only way to get the message across.
george gauchi
Apr 15th 2009, 13:58
The Maltese people feels betrayed and trampled upon by the corrupted EU,since Malta joined the EU things are getting worse for us as Maltese people too much taxes,lower wages,illegal migrants, hunters and trappers cheated and deprived from their hobbies,Malta has to do what the EU tells her to do,Malta was far more better before entering the EU.
Me and my family sure are going to be part of those 56% not voting.
simon james schembri
Apr 15th 2009, 13:56
if you don't vote, things will stay the same.
if you are sick of the politicians that are there, stop muttering and create your own political party. Or support the small parties.
Silence will get you nowhere in this country, kif tafu tajjeb...
Failure to vote is a vote for the status quo...
M. Tabone
Apr 15th 2009, 13:13
Maltese feel betrayed by the EU on the illegal immigration issue.
EU institutions often treat Maltese problems as SMALL COUNTRY=SMALL PROBLEMS.....
Lawrence Martinelli
Apr 15th 2009, 11:54
What a surprise.....people are beginning to realize that voting for the
European " Bruxelles Big Box " is just a " job " for the " boyos " who
did not make it at home.
Useful ? Oh, Yes.....for the reustarants around " La Bourse " in Bruxelles.
Alex Spiteri
Apr 15th 2009, 11:18
The silent revolution goes on!
As Joe Scerri rightly claimed, Maltese are sick and tired of today political class. Fed up of their arrogance, of their presence in people’s everyday life, corruption and many other ‘beauties’ politicians of this era managed to deliver!
Until a new political force, which puts the nation’s Culture above Economics, where Government gives up in running people’s life, when people won’t have any of their income stolen by the state, when ordinary citizens are put before some bogus human rights policy and where basic civil rights are granted to the folk, until then DO NOT VOTE!
We have already ‘morally won’ the last general elections, when around 40,000 decided not to vote for any of the options in the ballot paper. The free minded people of this country will continue to do just that...a silent revolution!
Joanne Micallef
Apr 15th 2009, 11:17
By wasting the vote we wont be doing us any favours, there aren't just the PL and the PN candidates out there to vote for.
Joe Scerri
Apr 15th 2009, 10:20
Maybe this should send a clear message to all politicians local and foreign that we are sick and tired of our MP's / MEP's and we expect them to start doing something useful for their constituents. I will definitely be part of that 56%.
As we long as we keep treating our politicians as some demi-gods they will keep on treating us like morons.