Budget 2027: Voters across political divide agree on most and least welcomed measures

Labour and Nationalist Party voters have sharply different views on Budget 2027, but agree that investment in Mater Dei Hospital and energy subsidies are among its most welcomed measures, according to new findings from market research firm Esprimi.

The third release of Esprimi's Budget Barometer 2027 shows that Labour voters are significantly more satisfied with the Budget than PN voters.

Among Labour voters, the proportion expressing satisfaction exceeded those expressing dissatisfaction by 61 percentage points.

The opposite was true among PN voters, where dissatisfaction exceeded satisfaction by 33 percentage points.

The political divide was even wider when respondents were asked about their confidence in the Government's management of the economy, with Labour voters expressing strong confidence and PN voters taking a largely negative view.

Both parties agree on best and worst measures

Despite these differences, voters from both parties identified the same measures as the most and least welcomed.

Investment in Mater Dei Hospital, including the extension of its Emergency Department, and subsidies keeping electricity, gas and fuel prices stable emerged as the most popular measures among both groups.

Meanwhile, the higher eco-contribution on tourist accommodation was the least welcomed measure among Labour and PN voters alike.

Previous findings from the survey showed that energy subsidies were welcomed by 42 per cent of respondents overall, while 41 per cent selected investment in Mater Dei Hospital among their most welcomed measures.

At the other end, 33 per cent identified the higher eco-contribution as one of their least welcomed measures.

Labour voters more supportive of measures affecting non-EU workers

The latest findings also highlight differences in attitudes towards Budget measures affecting third-country nationals.

Almost 70 per cent of Labour voters described these measures as fair and necessary, compared to 36 per cent of PN voters.

However, the difference between the two groups was smaller when asked whether Malta should rely less on non-EU workers.

Just over half of PN voters (51 per cent) supported reducing this reliance, compared to 42 per cent of Labour voters.

Commenting on the findings, Esprimi Director of Research Vanessa Bajada said political preferences influenced how respondents viewed the Budget overall.

"Party loyalty shapes how people judge the Budget overall, as you would expect. What stands out is that voters of both main parties put the same measures at the top and the bottom of their lists," she said.

The findings form part of Esprimi's first Budget Barometer, conducted among 400 Maltese adults between 29th October and 2nd November, following the presentation of Budget 2027 by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana.

The survey was conducted online, with respondents recruited through Esprimi's research panel and social media.