A survey carried out by former Malta Labour Party candidate and opinionist Alfred Mifsud has found that a significant majority of MLP voters favour Joseph Muscat as the next Labour leader, while Nationalist and floating voters would rather see George Abela at the party’s helm.

The survey, which is detailed in Mr Mifsud’s weekly column being published today on page 6, was carried out among 400 telephone interviewees – chosen on the basis of age and place of residence so as to provide a good representation of the electorate – in the last week of March.

In addition to the 64 per cent approval from MLP voters, Dr Muscat also garnered 43 per cent of “decliners”, or those refusing to disclose their political preferences, as well as 22 per cent of floating voters and 18 per cent of PN voters.

Dr Abela, meanwhile, attracted 45 per cent of floating voters, 40 per cent of PN voters, 23 per cent of “decliners” and just 11 per cent of MLP voters.

As matters stand in Mr Mifsud’s survey, Dr Muscat, with the apparent support of 64 per cent of MLP voters, would appear to be the leading contender for the MLP helm as the vote is to be taken in June.

According to the survey, fellow leadership contenders Evarist Bartolo, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Michael Falzon appear to be trailing behind in the popularity stakes.

Of the three, current deputy leader Dr Falzon fared the best, pulling in 24 per cent of PN votes, 14 per cent of “decliners”, 13 per cent of floating voters but just nine per cent of MLP voters.

Ms Coleiro Preca’s highest popularity was with the “decliners”, where she attracted five per cent. Mr Bartolo’s best was in the same category with eight per cent, while he also attracted the favour of six per cent of PN and four per cent of the MLP voters.

MLP party members are set to vote on its new leader on 5 June during the party’s general conference. In addition to today’s contribution, Mr Mifsud will be publishing the full breakdown of the survey’s findings on his website.