Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545062
19 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MAY 2026 NEWS ELECTION 2026 manifesto: Here is a breakdown ment, and Correctional Servic- es. • Joint task force: Set up a joint task force between the police and the army to combat drug trafficking, irregular migration and other cross border crimes. 9. TOURISM • Quality over quantity: Re-ori- enting the national tourism strategy to attract high-spend- ing tourists interested in cul- ture, heritage, gastronomy, and sports. • Niche tourism: Allocate spe- cific budgets to promote medi- cal tourism, conference (MICE) tourism, and off-peak eco-tour- ism, particularly in Gozo. • Upgrading product Malta: Implementing strict cleanliness, maintenance, and aesthetic standards across major touris- tic hubs like Sliema, St Julian's, Buġibba, and Valletta. • Support for the hospitality workforce: Introducing spe- cialised training programmes through the Institute of Tour- ism Studies (ITS) to upskill the local hospitality workforce and raise service standards. 10. CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORT • Direct funding for the arts: Increasing the national budget for independent artists, theat- rical productions, and cultural startups to foster a vibrant cre- ative industry. • Sports infrastructure of excel- lence: Building state-of-the-art facilities for a variety of indoor and outdoor sports disciplines, enabling Malta to host high-tier international competitions. • Preservation of heritage: In- jecting significant public funds into the restoration of historic fortifications, towers, and vil- lage cores, ensuring they remain accessible to the public. • PORT project: Build a na- tional hall and expo centre in Marsa to serve as a focal point for artists and an attraction for international events. 11. GOZO AS A DISTINCT REGION • Regional autonomy and gov- ernance: Granting increased de- cision-making powers and leg- islative autonomy to a regional Gozo council to ensure poli- cies are tailored to the island's unique needs. • Eco-island strategy: Enforc- ing strict environmental protec- tion codes to preserve Gozo's rural charm, while transforming it into a pilot hub for renewable energy and zero-emission tran- sit. • A dedicated hospital: Build- ing a new, fully equipped gen- eral hospital in Gozo that offers specialised acute care services, eliminating the frequent need for patients to travel to Malta. • Economic diversification: In- troducing specific tax credits for digital and tech-driven compa- nies that open offices in Gozo, creating high-quality career paths for local youth. 12. GOVERNANCE AND RULE OF LAW • Constitutional separation of powers: Implementing con- stitutional reforms to limit the executive power of the prime minister, particularly regarding appointments to independent watchdogs and judicial posi- tions. • Strengthening independent institutions: Guaranteeing com- plete financial and administra- tive autonomy for institutions like the National Audit Office, the Ombudsman, and the Per- manent Commission Against Corruption. • Whistleblower pro- tection: Overhauling existing legislation to provide genuine, airtight legal protection and in- stitutional support for individu- als who expose corruption with- in public and private sectors. • Freedom of Information re- form: Amending the FOI Act to eliminate systemic public sector delays and unjustified refus- als, ensuring true transparency in government contracts and agreements. 13. ENERGY AND WATER • Second interconnector: Ac- celerating the construction of the second subsea electricity interconnector to mainland Europe to guarantee stability of supply and meet growing de- mand. • Offshore clean energy farms: Launching public-private part- nerships for floating offshore wind and solar farms within Malta's exclusive economic zone (EEZ). • Water scarcity: Investing in advanced technology for groundwater replenishment and upgrading reverse osmo- sis plants to ensure long-term, high-quality water security. • Distribution grid overhaul: Directing heavy capital expend- iture toward upgrading the in- ternal distribution grid (substa- tions and cables) to put an end to seasonal power outages. 14. AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES • Protection of agricultural land: Introducing legal safe- guards to prevent active agricul- tural land from being developed or repurposed for non-farming uses. • Financial support for young farmers: Providing capital grants, low-interest loans, and technical mentorship schemes to encourage younger genera- tions to enter the farming and livestock industries. • Modernising fish markets and ports: Upgrading the infra- structure at traditional fishing ports, such as Marsaxlokk and Marsaskala, and enhancing re- frigeration and distribution fa- cilities at the fish market. • Promoting local produce: Launching funded national marketing campaigns and estab- lishing certified supply chains to give Maltese agricultural and maritime products a competi- tive edge in retail and hospitality markets. 15. DIGITAL SECTOR AND INNOVATION • National AI integration: Launching structured public frameworks to safely incorpo- rate Artificial Intelligence into healthcare diagnostics, traffic management, and educational personalisation. • Universal high-speed connec- tivity: Partnering with telecom- munications providers to ensure 100% nationwide coverage of ultra-fast fiber-optic broadband and advanced 5G networks. • Cybersecurity: Setting up a specialised National Cybersecu- rity Agency to safeguard critical public infrastructure, business- es, and citizen data. 16. FOREIGN POLICY AND THE EU • Active and strategic EU par- ticipation: Maximising Malta's influence within EU institutions by proactively aligning nation- al interests with key European policy dossiers, particularly re- garding maritime security and Mediterranean affairs. • Strengthening commercial diplomacy: Repositioning Mal- ta's embassies and diplomatic missions abroad to act as ag- gressive hubs for trade promo- tion, economic diplomacy, and FDI attraction. • Advocacy for island states: Leading diplomatic coalitions within the EU and the UN to champion the unique climate, economic, and logistical chal- lenges faced by small island na- tions. • Consolidating Mediterrane- an relations: Strengthening bi- lateral political, environmental, and security partnerships with North African and Middle East- ern neighbors to foster regional stability.