Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 Looking forward 2024 Robert Abela's headaches in the MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt ROBERT Abela's relatively short political career has been far from a walk in the park since becoming prime minister in 2020. From a global pandemic that took the world by storm just a few months into his premier- ship to a war in Europe that sent energy prices skyrocket- ing; from rampant inflation to the fallout of political scandals inherited from his predecessor; from homegrown disgruntle- ment to government u-turns; Abela has had a rough ride in- deed. After a tumultuous year marked by seemingly endless scandals and the emergence of his party's and government's soft underbelly, MaltaToday examines what headaches await the Prime Minister in 2024. 1. Joseph Muscat and the Vi- tals inquiry The magisterial inquiry into the hospitals concession that may recommend criminal ac- tion against former prime min- ister Joseph Muscat is surely the elephant in the room. After the Court of Appeal confirmed the decision to an- nul the hospitals contract, at- tention turned to the inquiry led by Magistrate Gabriella Vella, which was initiated after Repubblika asked for it in 2019. The investigation is examin- ing the potential for criminal charges against former Labour ministers Chris Cardona, Kon- rad Mizzi, and Edward Sci- cluna regarding the hospital concession awarded to Vitals Global Healthcare in 2015. Ad- ditionally, the inquiry is delv- ing into the actions of former prime minister Joseph Muscat, particularly following media reports suggesting he received consultancy payments from foreign companies associated with Steward Health Care after concluding his political career. Muscat vehemently denies any wrongdoing, asserting that all the work he undertook is legiti- mate and well-documented. The conclusion of the inquiry is highly anticipated, especially as former PN MP Jason Azzo- pardi hinted at "big news" that would lead to a "political earth- quake" in Facebook comments. In October 2023, MaltaToday had also reported that Labour MPs are bracing for the worst case scenario. Privately, Labour MPs have acknowledged that any damning conclusions will have serious ramifications for the party and the country. Abela will be walking a tight rope if the magistrate recom- mends that criminal action be taken against Muscat. On the one hand he will argue that the institutions should be allowed to function without interfer- ence but on the other hand he will have to face Labour's angry grassroots who are still enam- oured with Muscat. The Vitals inquiry will cer- tainly weigh heavily on Abela in 2024 and could cause him many a sleepless night. 2. Choosing the next president President George Vella's ten- ure expires in April and for the first time in history, the suc- cessor will require a two-thirds majority in parliament to be se- lected for the post. Robert Abela has already had a taste of what a two-third ma- jority requirement looks like during the never-ending sa- ga to appoint a new standards czar in 2023. After government and the Opposition failed to agree on a name, government resorted to a legal amendment to introduce an anti-deadlock mechanism. The same solution to bypass any impasse, howev- er, cannot be used for the pres- ident since the appointment is regulated by the Constitution which will require a two-thirds majority to be amended. Reaching consensus with Ber- nard Grech is going to be cru- cial despite the frosty relations between the two. In 2022, Abela shut down rumours that ex-prime minis- ter Lawrence Gonzi was being touted to be the next president. A former prime minister and party leader cannot be a uni- fying figure that one expects from the presidency, Abela had said. Meanwhile, last September MaltaToday reported that PN leader Bernard Grech informed his parliamentary group that he will be presenting three names to Abela when discussions on Vella's successor get under- way. These names are former PN minister Dolores Cristina, Caritas' PR and fundraising of- ficer Marica Cassar and serving magistrate Joe Mifsud. Whether or not Grech will truly propose these names to Abela when the time comes re- mains to be seen. Several names have been float- ed in political circles as possible contendors to replace George Vella. But despite the names be- ing thrown around, there seems to be no clear indication of who the next president will be. What is certain though is that a dead- lock similar to that experienced in 2023, will give Abela one more headache to deal with in the new year. 3. Inflation Despite government's gener- ous subsidies to keep the price of energy, fuel, grains and ani- mal feed stable, the cost of liv- ing has eaten away at spending power. Prices of food and ser- vices, in particular, have con- tinued to rise biting hard into people's pockets. This year has seen the price of fresh milk in- crease twice for a 25% increase. The situation is expected to persist in 2024 and possibly be made worse by the higher cost of transport and logisitics as a result of a new EU-wide carbon tax on shipping. The rising cost of living will continue to erode family incomes and this will be a major headache for the Prime Minister going into the June European Parliament election. 4. Financial strains What else can be a guaran- teed way to keep the Prime Minister on his toes other than the economy. Malta's econo- my has so far managed to keep its head above water and has outperformed most other EU economies. Abela's government has managed to shield consum- ers and businesses from re- cord increases in energy prices through hefty subsidies. Gov- ernment aims to spend some €320 million in fuel subsidies every year until at least 2026, or until Malta fixes its electric- ity supply, as Finance Minis- ter Clyde Caruana said in the budget. These subsidies represent one