Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544378
MINISTERS acknowledge a growing campaign atmosphere is taking root within govern- ment as rumours of a general election swirl but they insist their day-to-day work remains unaffected. Talk of an election intensified over the past week as the La- bour Party put out its billboards across Malta and will hold its congress over the coming six days. The congress, which starts today, will lay down the guide- lines for the electoral manifesto. But several Cabinet members, who were granted anonymity to be able to speak candidly about internal matters, have told Mal- taToday there is lack of clarity as to whether the prime minis- ter will call an election. None- theless, they said are having to cope with an intensifying cam- paign atmosphere while ensur- ing government work continues uninterrupted. A minister said long-term gov- ernment targets continue to be pursued collectively, empha- sising that strategic goals "go beyond one minister or individ- ual". CONTINUES ON PAGE 4 SEE PAGES 10-11 YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY 12 APRIL 2026 • ISSUE 1380 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY A messy reform Losing control Arctic Metagaz No country wants to deal with the environmental and security hazard on its own Cannabis activist Andrew Bonello was angered by the sponsorship deal involving the cannabis regulator and the MFA. But why? Deepfakes are no longer the stuff of political satire or Hollywood paranoia INTERVIEW MT2 Activists present four planning reform proposals €2.20 As election rumours abound, ministers insist work unaffected Robert Abela says an election can happen next year but has refused to dispel rumours of an imminent election, while the Labour Party has erected billboards around Malta As Malta holds its breath waiting for the general election to be called, ministers say campaigning has made their days longer, but day-to-day work remains unaffected ACTIVISTS from the Ġustizzja għal Artna Campaign have put forward four proposals aimed at reforming the planning sector. Standing on the steps of Au- berge de Castille on Saturday, the activists said the proposals benefit the common good in- stead of "the interests of a few developers". They called for the immedi- ate withdrawal of Bills 143 and 144, insisting that they threat- en to dismantle nearly all plan- ning safeguards. One of the proposals is for land that was slated for devel- opment in 2006 to be reclassi- fied as ODZ areas. MaltaToday has analysed the proposals, providing the his- torical context for them and case studies highlighting the ills they aim to address. PAGES 6-7 PAGES 8-9 KARL AZZOPARDI & KURT SANSONE kazzopardi@mediatoday.com.mt ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday