Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1542674
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 18 JANUARY 2026 NEWS what's being offered by the market," he said. "This was a decision that need- ed to be taken." He also pointed out a can of worms that the government will have to deal with in two years' time. As per rental reform adopted in 2010, old commercial leases that were capped and protected at law will have that capping lifted in 2028. Commercial tenants that enjoyed protected rental agreements will suddenly be subject to market pric- es and possible eviction. Foreign workers essential Kurt turned to the increase in popula- tion numbers and the effect on the rent- al market. "The rental market in Malta practically didn't exist. It was in the past 10 years that the rental market explod- ed. This left an impact on the local situa- tion. It's somewhat related to the immi- gration discussion. Did the government fail to understand the repercussions of certain approaches?" Abela's first remark was that foreign- ers are sorely needed in many sectors, be it healthcare, hospitality or transport. If the country is to continue growing economically, foreigners must be part of the equation. "We cannot go in the dan- gerous direction of saying that we don't need foreign workers in this country." He said the Labour Migration Policy was the moment that the government grabbed the bull by the horns. Yet there's a contradiction in the way people experience the effects of migration. Res- idents complain of the sudden increase in foreign workers, but the business community says there isn't enough of them. "It's one reality against another," Abela said. I told him we're increasingly seeing Maltese people treating foreigners in dehumanising ways, whether it's a land- lord abusing his tenant or a business- man forcing foreign workers into pred- atory practices. "Politicians talk about immigrants as economic problems—al- though they've been the economic solu- tion for years," I told him. "Maybe there could be a more humanising way that we can talk about these people." Karl added that government's empha- sis on repatriation of someone residing in Malta illegally may be sending out a tough message but then it fails to hu- manise those who live here, work here, and contribute to the wellbeing of soci- ety. "Politicians seem to hold back on this," he said. Abela said it's because they don't want to foment anti-immigrant sentiment. "But I agree that we need to speak re- sponsibly about the matter, and you can't do that by fomenting fear." I told him it would be nice to see pol- iticians actively standing up for mi- grant communities, putting a spotlight on their positive contributions to the country. "People form opinions not just through lived experiences but also through how politicians talk, or don't talk, about issues." Kurt also mentioned how some people might talk unfavourably about immi- grants generally, but will then defend the foreigner taking care of their par- ents. Abela reflected on his experience with his parents after they suffered injuries from a traffic accident. "If it weren't for the Indian carers who washed them twice a day, cleaned their wounds, fed them, they would have ended up in a care home or hospital for two months until fully recovered," the prime minis- ter said. "But politicians need to send a mes- sage sometimes," James noted. "There are foreigners who spend two years here and leave, then there are others who stay in the country for longer. Do you see room for more inclusion for these communities? Like allowing them to vote in local councils?" Abela said there are more immediate matters that need to be addressed. He said that as recently as two years ago there were massive illegalities happen- ing in sectors that relied on foreign workers. "It was literal human traffick- ing," he acknowledged. "People were taking a cut from every person entering the country, and this wasn't tied to any real work." He said the sentiment has changed over the past year and a half. "I'm not saying everyone is happy with the sit- uation, but I think people see the work being carried out by Identita and Job- sPlus, that they're taking control of the situation." Asset declaration reform A week prior to this exchange, Abela said he wanted to introduce a single as- set declaration system for all MPs. This after Cabinet members took a unilat- eral decision to stop submitting min- isterial asset declarations because they already declare their assets as MPs. We asked him to explain what chang- es he wants to make to the system. His first point was that the Cabinet decla- ration forms make something of an un- fair distinction between ministers who have a separation of assets from their partner and those with community of assets. In the latter case, those ministers would also have to declare all financial investments and bank accounts held by their spouses. He confirmed that this single declara- tion form would force MPs to declare their income but would not force MPs, or ministers, to provide details about their spouse's finances. "Banks and the FIAU already scrutinise the assets of politicians' partners," he said. Abortion remains tricky Laura Calleja asked the prime minister whether the Labour Party will include abortion in its manifesto, something he ruled out. But Abela did raise the issue of women being sent to prison if found guilty in court of having an abortion. "There appears to be consensus that women should not end up in prison," he said. However, he also took the com- mitment of exercising Cabinet preroga- tive to recommend removal of a prison sentence if ever the courts hand down an effective prison term (see separate story). Ta' Qali and lessons learned "So, about Jason Micallef..." Karl asked. "Has the grass grown yet?" Abela asked back. "You tell me." Abela stood by his comments in an interview the Sunday prior. He said the Ta' Qali regeneration project was a feat, and he praised Jason Micallef for lead- ing it, but also said that the picnic area could have been handled better. "And we need to be humble enough to say that the intervention, which was need- ed, might not have worked as well as we hoped." Karl continued to press him on Mi- callef, his attitude towards journalists who have been more critical of the Ta' Qali gravel intervention. "Why do you think I addressed it on Sunday?" the prime minister said. "I felt that there was an underlying issue that had to be tackled." He had long finished his espresso when the chat was over. By noon, the Prime Minister was gone and the news- room was back to its usual rhythm. This is where the real work of jour- nalism starts; when the microphones are switched off and you're left with answers to fact-check and promises to track. What matters next is not what was said, but what will actually follow. < CONTINUES FROM LAST PAGE 'We cannot go in the dangerous direction of saying that we don't need foreign workers in this country' Prime Minister Robert Abela conversing with MaltaToday Editor Kurt Sansone