Most feel corruption is a major problem in Malta

A Eurobarometer survey has found that a large majority of Maltese think that corruption in Malta is a major problem.

Most feel that the problem is particularly serious among institutions involving the granting of building permits, politicians and the judiciary.

The survey in Malta was conducted in September.

Of the 500 respondents,  88 per cent   – 14 per cent more than the EU average – said that corruption is a major problem in Malta and spreads across all main institutions from national to local level.

60 per cent mentioned MEPA as having most corruption, followed by politicians (52 per cent) and the Judiciary (49 per cent).

The least corrupt people, at  17 per cent, were those working in the public education sector.

In the rest of the EU, politicians are considered as the most corrupt category of people (57 per cent) followed by politicians at regional level (48 per cent).

Only 46 per cent of respondents in the EU mentioned the granting of building permits as a source of corruption and only 32 percent felt the judiciary was corrupt – 17 per cent less than Malta.

52 per cent of the Maltese said think that corruption had increased in the past three years.

Half of the Maltese respondents said that links between business and politicians are too close and 40 per cent think that politicians do not do enough to fight corruption.

83 per cent said that corruption  always existed and cannot be eradicated. However only 4% said they were asked for a bribe in return for a service and none were from politicians or members of the judiciary.