Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1515804
KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt EQUALITY FROM THE HEART WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2024 • ISSUE 1267 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY → direct My investments, My way. Whether you are a pro in investing or just starting out, MeDirect provides the tools you need to put your money to work – safely, simply and on your own terms. MeDirect Bank (Malta) plc, company registration number C34125, is licensed to undertake the business of Banking in terms of the Banking Act (Cap. 371) and investment services under the Investments Act (Cap.370). medirect.com.mt 2557 4400 Malta with the sixth highest increase in minimum wage PAGE 5 New 60MW temporary power plant in Delimara PAGE 6 Anti-EU populism could result in major shift to the far-right PAGES 10 - 11 12th in EU MEP elections Emergency Maltese stone maltatoday PAGE 2 Labour starts European election race 15,000 votes ahead of PN PL 47.9% 41% PN THE Labour Party is supported by 47.9% of voters, while the Nationalist Party trails at 41% in the first MaltaToday voting inten- tion survey for June's MEP election. The PL leads the PN by seven points, which translates into an advantage of 15,422 votes on the back of a record low turnout of 62.5%. The decrease in turnout is more pro- nounced among those who vote PL in the 2022 general election, among which 34% are intent on abstaining. However, the Trust Barometer shows Robert Abela gaining four points since De- cember, putting him a whopping 24 points ahead of his direct rival, Bernard Grech. Abela has a trust rating of 41.1% against Grech's dismal 16.7%. But in an indication of widespread disenchantment with the political establishment, a relative majori- ty (42%) trusts neither of the two political leaders. FULL RESULTS PAGES 13 - 15 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt MaltaToday EP election survey VOTING Others: 11.1% | Turnout: 62.5% TRUST Robert Abela: 41.1% | Bernard Grech: 16.7% None: 42.2% GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE BAROMETER 2.8 marks out of 5 Malta to take part in EU's Red Sea mission with army officer at operation headquarters MALTA is "actively considering" participating in the EU's Red Sea mission called Operation Aspides to defend commercial ships from Houthi attacks, the Home Affairs Ministry said. An officer from the Armed Forces of Malta will be stationed at the operation's headquarters in Greece. "The Government of Malta and the AFM are actively considering, pending conclusion of ongoing discussions, participation in Op- eration Aspides with an officer in the operation's headquarters," a spokesperson for the ministry told MaltaToday. €1.95 Gozo and Planning Gozo and Planning minister Clint minister Clint Camilleri on better Camilleri on better aesthetics in Gozo aesthetics in Gozo INTERVIEW MT2