40 per cent of Maltese not interested in who gets elected MEP

Forty per cent of the Maltese electorate are not really interested on who is chosen to represent them in the European Parliament in the next five years.

According to the results of an EU-wide survey, carried out by TNS Opinion in partnership with the Centre for European Studies, 14 per cent of Maltese respondents said they were "not interested" in the upcoming EP elections on June 6 and another 26 per cent said they were "rather not interested".

On the other hand, the Maltese survey, conducted among a sample of 500, showed that 59 per cent of the electorate would probably be voting because they are interested on who goes to the EP.

Comparatively, 36 per cent said they were "rather interested" and 23 per cent of Maltese respondents said they were "very interested".

Despite Malta's lack of enthusiasm in a super-politicised island, it fared quite well when compared with other member states.

The "very interested" segment of Maltese respondents was the third highest in the EU following Luxembourg, where 29 per cent said they were "very interested", and Ireland, with 25 per cent.

However, the survey confirmed earlier indications that Malta was heading towards one of its lowest voting turnouts when it comes to national elections.

During the first EP election held in 2004, 82 per cent of the electorate had voted, placing Malta at the top of the EU turnout scale. But last year's general election gave the first real indication of voting apathy among the electorate with a turnout of 92 per cent. Although high in EU terms, this was Malta's worst voting turnout in 35 years.

Polls being conducted on a regular basis by the main political parties are also indicating a low turnout, particularly from traditional Nationalist areas.

The Sunday Times has reported that polls by the two main political parties were giving clear indications that the turnout on June 6 might even fall by 10 percentage points compared to 2004.

The polls are also indicating a Labour victory, with the party possibly winning four of the six available MEP seats once the Lisbon Treaty comes into effect.

The survey results published yesterday show that although many did not intend to vote because they did not consider these elections to be important, they still believed the best way to voice their opinion was through voting.

A total of 59 per cent of Maltese respondents agreed this was the best method to get their message across to politicians, followed by 17 per cent who said they would prefer blogging or using the internet to communicate with politicians.

Campaigning online was clearly increasing in popularity, something which Maltese parties, individual candidates and information providers have clearly grasped.

According to the survey, while 54 per cent of Maltese respondents said they preferred to get their information about June's EP elections from the television, 33 per cent said they preferred the internet.

In terms of personal qualities, respondents were keen to see prospective MEPs attend all the meetings and plenary sessions in the EP. MEPs should guarantee "a full-time commitment to their function of a European deputy" according to 31 per cent of Maltese respondents. Another 19 per cent said their MEP should have experience in EU affairs.