Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1544723
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 MAY 2026 ANALYSIS ELECTION 2026 Campaign week one: A spending THE election itself was framed by Prime Minister Robert Abe- la as a necessary step to secure a strong mandate in the face of growing international uncer- tainty. But while Abela has pointed to global instability as justifi- cation for early elections, the tone on the ground is one of increased spending rather than caution. Both major parties seem committed to upholding the current economic model and are competing on how best to spend the revenue it gener- ates, without any hint of pain or austerity for any segment of society, or any suggestion of taxing excessive profits or wasteful practices. In short, increased spending on electoral promises, cou- pled with a commitment by both parties to uphold current subsidies on fuel and electrici- ty, will depend on keeping the economic engine running at full gear. The campaign started with a recognition by PN leader Alex Borg himself, of the strength of Malta's economy, while insist- ing that it should be better felt in people's everyday lives. But one remarkable differ- ence was felt in the first days of the campaign. While Labour has launched a targeted blitz of proposals aimed at key demographics, fo- cused on leaving more money in people's pockets across the board in a structured way, the PN's campaign has been more scattered, subdued, and more focused on capital investments in healthcare, which may sug- gest a more long-term plan— albeit one that has not been articulated properly, except for an emphasis on prioritising quality of life. On the other hand, Labour's narrative is more robust and well presented: You can trust us, because of our track record, to continue to spend from the revenue generated by an eco- nomic model which we de- signed ourselves, in ways that improve your daily life. By contrast, the PN finds itself competing in the supermarket sale bonanza without the same drive or sales pitch. MaltaToday looked at some of the key proposals unveiled by the respective political par- ties during the first week of the election campaign and an- alysed the strategic thinking behind them. PL PROPOSALS The Labour Party has focused its early campaign on families, housing, and pensioners, hit- ting at different demographics with partly costed proposals. • Pensions increase: A guar- anteed increase of €50 per week for all pensioners over the next five years, including COLA. • My First Home scheme: An interest-free loan from the government covering up to 25% of the property value for first-time buyers. • New-born bonus: An in- crease in the birth bonus to €5,000 per child, replacing the current tiered system. €3,000 paid during the seventh month of pregnancy, with the remain- ing €2,000 after birth. • Baby leave extensions: Maternity leave: Extended to 26 weeks. Paternity leave: Increased to one month. Parental leave: Six months of optional paid leave, fully funded by the government and shareable between parents. • Gozo connectivity: Free Gozo Channel trips for all foot passengers (Maltese and Gozitan). • Student support: A 15% in- crease in all student stipends. • Youth incentives: Com- plete tax exemption on the first €30,000 for three years for youths entering the labour market or starting a business. • Gozo projects: 100 promises specifically for Gozo, including a €45 million electricity inter- connector and school modern- isations. • Malta-Sicily interconnector: A third interconnector to Sici- ly with a projected cost of €600 million. Labour's proposals remain consistent with its long-stand- ing strategy of supporting household income and con- sumption. Robert Abela ex- plicitly stated this week that a Labour government would guarantee a social model that cares for its citizens "from the cradle to the grave at every step of their lives," an approach that underlies the party's social democratic values but hinges A week that began with Robert Abela's sober call for a strong mandate in the face of international uncertainty James Debono dissects the electoral strategy behind the pledges Robert Abela, flanked by his wife Lydia Abela (left) and Ian Borg at the end of the Labour Party mass meeting at Castille Square on Workers' Day (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)