A Gallup Europe-2004 Barometer survey, commissioned by the European Parliament, last week revealed that 62 per cent of Maltese voters are certain they will vote on 12 June. This is better than the EU average of 45 per cent.

A Xarabank survey said 24.9 per cent of people questioned were still undecided with a further 7.1 per cent saying they will not vote.

The Xarabank survey also seemed to indicate a rather heavy fall-out from the PN vote, compared to the exceptional circumstances of the 2003 general election.

Only two thirds of those who voted PN last year said they are going to vote for the PN candidates while around 8.2 per cent of those who voted PN will now vote for Alternattiva Demokratika.

Slightly less, 59.9 per cent, of those who voted Yes in the EU referendum will be voting for PN candidates. The survey also showed that 80 per cent of those who voted Labour in the election will vote for Labour candidates.

The Gallup survey pointed in the same direction, especially since, in contrast to the Xarabank survey, it also included questions about content. Its results show that the prime worry for the Maltese voters is unemployment: 67 per cent of Maltese voters worry about it, compared to the 51 per cent EU average.

The second regards pensions: 43 per cent of the Maltese expressed their concern compared to the EU’s 29 per cent. The third regards the state of the environment: 41 per cent of the Maltese to two per cent in the EU. In contrast, only 26 per cent of Maltese said they were worried about terrorism, compared to 34 per cent all over Europe.

It should be noted that these themes form an integral part of the Labour campaign prior to the 12 June elections.