A new EU survey has found that 92% of Maltese citizens believe the issue of corruption to be widespread across the entire nation, a percentage which has climbed up considerably since last year.

This data was revealed in the latest annual Eurobarometer survey, which aims to gauge citizens’ attitudes towards corruption in the EU in 2023, with data collected from 514 Maltese respondents over the months of April and May.

On a European level, 70% of citizens believe corruption to be widespread within their countries, with an increase of 2% since last year.

However, Malta saw a much more drastic increase, at 13%, since the same survey conducted in 2022. 

Asked whether the taking of bribes and the abuse of power for personal gain is widespread among any particular sectors, political parties came first, at a whopping 79%.

Meanwhile, Malta’s citizens think that politicians at a local level, officials awarding public tenders, and officials issuing building permits, are also highly abusing power and taking bribes, at 71%, 73%, and 78% respectively.

Interestingly, when asked who they’d speak to to report cases of corruption, media and newspapers ranked third, following the police and the justice system, and topping the National Ombudsman, and specialised anti-corruption agencies.

Do you feel that corruption is widespread in Malta?