‘We not only seek to find out who we are, but who we have become’ – President

President George Vella said on Tuesday that the second edition of the State of the Nation survey will provide insight into not only who the Maltese are, but who citizens have become.

President Vella, together with statistician Vincent Marmara and Strategic Communications Consultant Lou Bondi, launched the second edition, the data of which will start being collected tomorrow.

The respective data will be presented at the national conference on Thursday 9 June at the Verdala Palace. The conference will include a total of five panels with various speakers and moderators from all walks of life, such as academics, politicians, and more.

Themes of the panels will touch upon various subjects, such as the environment, rule of law, corruption, the physiognomy of the state and others. The discussions could include other topics outside of the themes as well.

Vella said that plans to make the report and conference an annual event were already underway following the success of the first edition of the conference in 2021.

“Last year, the findings of the survey shed light to many perspectives on various themes, and the focal point of the survey this year is to see who the Maltese have become, rather than solely on who we are,” Vella said.

Vella said he is interested in whether the survey and discussions will change drastically from that of the previous year, as well as the responses and outcomes concerning different major events such as the Covid19 pandemic, the general election, and the Ukrainian conflict.

Vella said he is also interested in whether Pope Francis’ visit to Malta has impacted the public, as well as further effects from environmental concerns.

He appealed for respect and for a good example to be set as to how to debate and discuss without being disrespectful, during the panels on the day.

Marmara said that the survey will look into the souls and minds of the Maltese people, and participants will include different types of citizens, children, youth, adults and the elderly.

The margin for error will be that of plus or minus 3%, Marmara said, which will realistically represent the public.

Among the most notable results of the 2021 survey, Marmara said that the family, and family life, have always been important to the Maltese citizens. Politics and religion had a central role for the public, he said.

The majority of Maltese people were also uncomfortable with the mixing of different cultures within Malta, the statistics found.

Overall, the 2021 survey showed that the Maltese citizen is proud of their identity, satisfied with their lives and feel that their rights are being addressed, Vella said.

Bondi said that the 2021 conference gathered a good level of interest from the public, and this year’s conference will have the possibility of persons participating physically.

Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech have accepted to participate at the conference, Bondi revealed. President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola also accepted to participate, though it is yet to be determined if she will attend physically, he said.

Bondi said that the initiative will help understand better the nation’s values and opinions at the nation’s core.