Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1532462
mt survey franksalt.com.mt/befrank THAT INVESTS IN YOU Now recruiting Property Consultants – step up your career. SEE INTERVIEW MT2 JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY 2025 • ISSUE 1319 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY The need for speed What What makes people seek makes people seek the thrill of driving fast? the thrill of driving fast? Should engine power be Should engine power be limited for young drivers? limited for young drivers? PAGES 2 - 3 maltatoday Mosta and Paola health centres are by far the busiest of 10 regional facilities PAGE 4 Marsaxlokk villas to make way for new semi- detached homes PAGE 11 Healthcare Planning €2.20 Labour back in pole with 12,000-vote lead as Momentum hits 4% THE Labour Party has managed to claw back lost ground with the first MaltaToday survey of 2025 showing it ahead of the Nationalist Party by 11,613 votes. The four-point lead reverses the one-point deficit the PL had in No- vember's survey when it trailed the PN. The current survey is based on a projected turnout of 75.5%. The PL now scores a relative majori- ty of 48.2% against the PN's 43.9%. But despite recovering support, the PL's strength remains significantly lower than its 2022 general election perfor- mance when it obtained an absolute majority and a 39,000-vote lead. The survey coincided with increased political tension over a reform of mag- isterial inquiries and the receipt of the first pay cheques and benefits that re- flected the budget tax cut and higher social outlays, including pensions. The survey also shows that Momen- tum, a new party launched only last month by Arnold Cassola and a team of activists, is already leaving its mark on the political scene. The centrist formation scored 4%, slightly higher than ADPD which retains most of its support. Collectively, the two parties command the support of over 7% of voters. The MaltaToday survey also con- firms the unpopularity of PN leader Bernard Grech, who now trails Rob- ert Abela by a staggering 22 points up from 18 points in November. Moreo- ver, in another indication of the post budget feel-good factor, respondents gave the government a satisfactory rating of 2.9 out of 5, up from 2.7 in November. FULL RESULTS PAGES 7 - 10 OMBUDSMAN Joseph Zammit McKeon has voiced disagreement with Prime Minister Robert Abela's disparaging comments over a prison report that flagged abuse by former director Alex Dalli. "I cannot agree with him for one simple reason – the investigation was carried out meticulously. It is not a case where we sat behind a desk and drew up a report. Everyone's testimony was heard, including those in the highest roles within the pris- on," Zammit McKeon said in an interview with MaltaToday. In comments to the me- dia, the Prime Minister had dismissed the report by say- ing it is easy to "sit behind a desk, censure in comfort and write reports". "I respect the Prime Min- ister as a person, and I re- spect his role, which is one of responsibility, but with all due respect, I cannot agree with him," Zammit McKeon said. "A number of testimonies were heard inside the prison, there is a record of these testimonies, and we know exactly what happened inside the prison." The report flagged shock- ing cases of abuse on Dalli's watch. Ombudsman rebukes PM over prison report comments KARL AZZOPARDI kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt VOTING INTENTIONS Momentum: 4% | ADPD: 3.4% | Others: 0.5% Turnout: 75.5% TRUST Robert Abela: 46.8% Bernard Grech: 24.7% None: 28.5% PL 48.2% 43.9% PN Joseph Zammit McKeon