Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544245
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2026 ANALYSIS tionally recognised as the fourth pillar of democracy. Although not a major concern for the public, the slow pace adopted by the government on this reform casts a shadow on the Labour administration's priorities in upholding media free- doms. If an election is called now, the bills before parliament will expire and it will be up to a new government to re- start the process afresh. PARENT TAX CUTS Calling a spring election means par- ents head to the polls having received only the first tranche of the three- year tax relief plan initiated in the last budget. On the other hand, if the elec- tion is held in March next year, parents would be reaping the benefits of the second tranche of tax relief due in Jan- uary 2027. The third and final tranche would post-date the next election whenever it happens. This means that while families benefit from an initial average saving of €800 per parent—part of a projected €2,400 total over three years—they would not see these savings double as planned for the second phase before voting. Instead, they will be presented with an already approved budgetary commit- ment. Government would probably tie these commitments to its central mes- sage, that only a tried and tested Labour government can be trusted with retain- ing its promise. Still, staging an election now amidst international turmoil would inevitably trigger questions on the government's ability to honour its commitments, especially if the energy subsidy bill in- creases significantly. But Abela would likely bank on his successful record of managing the pan- demic and inflation caused in the im- mediate aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He will project himself as a safe pair of hands in a time of crisis reminding voters that despite the diffi- culties he faced, he had never resorted to austerity. RENEWABLE ENERGY Malta remains heavily reliant on natural gas and imported electricity, leaving it vulnerable to international instability. Progress has been made on the renewable energy front. The first offshore wind concession, a 300 MW floating project, received three bids in mid-2025, although no contracts have been awarded yet. Physical works on the second inter- connector (IC2) are well underway, while proposals for offshore wind and North African solar imports remain in pre-market consultation. None of these lofty commitments will have come to fruition if an election is called now, al- though neither will any of these projects be near completion if the election is held next year. The question is, will the com- mitment to renewable energy endure after an election? WASTE INFRASTRUCTURE Permits have been issued for Mal- ta's waste-to-energy infrastructure at Magħtab, but works have stalled. An in- cinerator is central to reducing landfill dependency and yet the project has hit snag after smag with the latest being the withdrawal of the preferred bidder in November 2025, forcing a restart of the tendering process with no clear time- line. While landfill capacity has been tem- porarily increased and Malta has made great strides on waste separation, it re- mains a race against time when it comes to a long-term solution to the waste problem. TRANSPORT DECISIONS The Maltese Government is shifting its mass transport strategy to a mul- ti-modal 'hybrid' system, replacing the If an election is called now, government plans currently being drafted for a mass transport system will unlikely see the light of day, although transportation Works on a refurbished drag racing track in Hal Far are well underway but no planning permit has been issued yet for a long-promised circuit race track planned for the same area Pending legislation will expire < CONTINUES FROM PREVIOUS PAGE