Eurobarometer finds 39% of Maltese never discuss politics with friends

Despite the daily tit-for-tat political spectacle, the Maltese may not be as passionate about politics as may be thought they are

According to the EU survey, the Maltese are the least to discuss national politics with friends in Europe
According to the EU survey, the Maltese are the least to discuss national politics with friends in Europe

Judging by the result an EU-wide survey, despite the daily tit-for-tat political spectacle, the Maltese may not be as passionate about politics as may be thought they are.    

In fact, according to this survey conducted in November, the Maltese are the least to discuss national politics with friends in Europe.

The survey shows that 39% of the Maltese “never” discuss local political matters with friends or relatives, up from 36% in spring and from 30% in spring 2012, when the PN was still in government.  

The percentage of Maltese who say that they never talk about politics is 16 points higher than the European average. After the Maltese the least likely to talk about local politics are the Portugese (36%). Only 9% of Swedes and 11% of Germans and Greeks never talk about their country’s politics.

Moreover 11% of Maltese say they “frequently” talk about politics to friends and relatives – down from 20% in 2012. 43% speak about Maltese politics occasionally –down from 50% in 2012.  

In contrast 30% of Germans talk about their country’s politics frequently while 58% do so occasionally.

Compared to a survey held in spring, which coincided with the Panama papers revelations, the percentage of Maltese who talk about politics frequently to friends and relatives decreased by six points. 

The survey also shows the Maltese as the least likely in the European Union to talk about European political matters with friends and relatives. A majority of Maltese (51%) never do so, compared to 33% of respondents in all member states. The percentage of Maltese who never talk about European politics has remained the same.  Only 8% of the Maltese talk about European politics frequently. The Dutch (26%), Greeks (25%) and Swedes (25%) are the most likely to talk on European political matters.

The questions were part of the Standard Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the European Commission and was carried out by MISCO among 515 Maltese respondents.