Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544648
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 APRIL 2026 ELECTION 2026 Increases in parents' leave and interest-free loans to first-time buyers among PL's first proposals THE Labour Party is promising an eight-week increase in mater- nity leave, a two-week increase in paternity leave, and six months of parental leave, among its first proposals. The party announced these pledges in a flashy press con- ference in Ta' Qali, as the first batch of proposals centres mainly around parents, first-time buyers, and pensioners. The PL is promising to increase mothers' maternity leave to 26 weeks, while fathers can bene- fit from one month of paternal leave, up from two weeks. Mean- while, both parents can benefit from six months of voluntary parental leave that can be split up however the parents wish. This will apply to couples earning up to €70,000. The party also announced that when a baby is between one and two years old, the parents would be entitled an additional 28 days of leave that can be split up be- tween them. Should the parents decide to go back to work im- mediately and not use their six months of parental leave, they can use the additional 28 days instead. Youths and first-time buyers Addressing the press confer- ence, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that the first round of proposals also targeted young people entering the work- force or starting their own start- up. The PL promised that during the first three years after becom- ing employees or opening their own startup, the first €30,000 in income will be tax exempt. Abela also announced the par- ty's "My First Home" scheme proposal, where government would loan 25% of the property's value to first-time buyers without interest. Government would then keep that 25% as a guarantee un- til the beneficiaries pay back the loan. This will be targeted at first- time buyers older than 23 years old and those eligible must be buying a property worth up to €300,000 if the beneficiary is a single person with an income no more than €40,000. Meanwhile, couples who earn a total of no more than €60,000 can benefit from the scheme if the property they wish to buy is worth up to €350,000. This scheme would apply to homes bought since 1 January 2026. Second-time buyers Abela said that the party's prop- erty proposals also target those who wish to sell their first home to buy a second one. He said that under a new PL government, families with more than one child who wish to do so will be able to benefit from all first-time buy- er initiatives related to tax pay- ments, as well as UCA-related schemes. Birth Bonus Addressing Malta's birth-rate issues, the PL is proposing a €5,000 payment for each child that is born, with the first €3,000 paid during the seventh month of pregnancy. The rest would be paid after the child is born. Therapy Abela then turned his attention to children under the age of 18 who have a disability or neuro- divergent condition, pledging to finance the entire expenditure re- lated to therapy they might need. In such cases, the children's parents would also be entitled to five days of carers leave if they take their children to medical ap- pointments. Pensioners The PL promised a €50 weekly increase in pensions, including COLA payments. This, Abela said, means that throughout the next five years, pensioners will benefit from more than €1 billion in increases. Economy should not be ultimate objective but a means to improve quality of life: Alex Borg NATIONALIST Party leader Alex Borg launched his electoral campaign for the upcoming gen- eral election under the slogan A New Breath (Nifs Ġdid). When speaking to the press on Tuesday, Borg emphasised the economy should be viewed as a means of improving Malta's qual- ity of life, rather than an ultimate objective. However, Borg dodged the question before walking out when pressed on his recent re- marks about the international energy crisis and its potential im- pact on Malta. Instead, he said Prime Minis- ter Robert Abela used the ener- gy crisis as "an excuse to call an election," despite saying that he wouldn't do so earlier this year. Borg pointed out Abela called the election a year early due to circumstances he has yet to ex- plain. "If his mandate is so strong, why did the prime minister call the election early?" Borg questioned. "This raises a lot of questions for me." He said that people are tired of traffic, rising cost-of-living, and a country which is moving so fast that people sometimes can't tell which way it's even going. Borg presented what he said was an alternative approach, which bases economic success on how much it improves quality of life for citizens, explaining that a strong economy should give higher wages, more hope to the youth, and strengthen businesses. He announced the PN's cam- paign proposals will be released later on Tuesday, which will also address the bureaucracy employ- ers are trying to escape by latch- ing education to the economy in an effort to create more workers. "Malta belongs to its people, not its politicians," Borg said, calling for a new way of doing politics which allows the country to see a future again, insisting that Mal- ta does not need a government who thinks the country's money is theirs. "The government needs to un- derstand that power is not a priv- ilege, it's a responsibility." EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt