Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545107
9 maltatoday | THURSDAY • 28 MAY 2026 NEWS ELECTION 2026 THE National Statistics Office will not be publishing the govern- ment finance and unemployment data scheduled on Friday "in ob- servance of reflection day". In what is ostensibly an unprec- edented decision, the NSO will postpone the publication of these two data sets until after the gener- al election. Malta votes on Saturday 30 May, with Friday being the silent day when political campaigning is banned at law. The Government Finance Janu- ary-April statistics and the Regis- tered Unemployed data were set to be released on Friday 29 May, according to the NSO's online cal- endar. But a note published last week now states that these two data sets will be released on 3 and 4 June respectively instead. The NSO will still be publishing GDP figures as scheduled on Thursday 28 May. NSO Director General Etienne Caruana defended his decision to postpone publication when asked why was it relevant that official statistics are not published on re- flection day. "I took this decision last week, as a matter of prudential judgement, prior to having the draft news re- leases in hand," Caruana told Mal- taToday. He added: "I considered it inappropriate to publish official statistics at a time when policy- makers would not be in a position to react to the information we publish in a timely and meaning- ful manner. This consideration was central to the decision-mak- ing process, and the public was informed accordingly in keeping with principles of good statistical governance." Caruana insisted the postpone- ment was "guided by principles of responsibility and good statisti- cal practice". He said the aim was to ensure that official statistics "continue to serve their intended purpose effectively and appropri- ately". The director general said the postponement was in line "with the spirit" of Article 114(1) of the General Elections Act. The article cited by Caruana prohibits activities capable of in- fluencing voters immediately be- fore—popularly known as silent or reflection day—and on election day proper but it does not specifi- cally bar official statistics from be- ing released. Article 114(1) reads: "No person shall address any public meeting or any other gathering whatsoever in any place or building accessible to the public, or on the broadcast- ing media, on any matter intend- ed or likely to influence voters in the exercise of the franchise, or publish or cause to be published any newspaper, printed matter or other means of communication to the public containing any matter aforesaid, or issue or cause to be issued any statement or declara- tion on any matter aforesaid or knowingly distribute any news- paper, printed matter, or other means of communication, or any statement or declaration as afore- said." Any person who breaches the law shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding €1,164 or imprisonment for a term not ex- ceeding six months, or both. Statistics chief postpones release of government finance, unemployment data on 'reflection day' KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt Il-Kollettiv accuses PN and PL of ignoring overdevelopment fears during campaign IL-KOLLETTIV accused the main political parties of pan- dering to big business lobbies through the election, ignoring residents' fears of further over- construction, overpopulation, and traffic felt across Malta and Gozo. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Il-Kollettiv called on the government to take ac- tion particularly on issues in Żurrieq, Mellieħa, Safi, and Swatar, explaining that the group has worked with residents from different regions of the is- land who face significant chal- lenges as a consequence of the excessive power given to private interests. "Both parties have made nu- merous vague promises involv- ing the expansion of infrastruc- ture, a review of planning laws and local plans, without clear initiatives to limit population in- crease," President of Il-Kollettiv Jeanette Borg said. "Quite to the contrary, it seems as if they're warning us that there's no in- tention to regulate, let alone change, the economic model, and that its main side-effects will continue to be borne by res- idents for years to come." It highlighted that many of these proposals were publicly criticised by a number of busi- ness lobbies, while also doing little to solve the immediate, day-to-day issues faced in Mal- tese towns. Il-Kollettiv claimed that instead, the PN and PL only choose to take stances on such matters when they face ques- tions from the media. Borg referenced an ongoing saga in Nigret as an example, noting that during the cam- paign, Prime Minister Robert Abela declared that government land won't be used for private development in the area, with residents now waiting for him to act upon his word. She noted that the same situation applies at Żnuber in Mellieħa, where another piece of public land was given away for the construction of a hotel. Il-Kollettiv also expressed its solidarity with the residents of Naxxar, whose safety and peace of mind is under threat follow- ing the collapse of a nearby con- struction site, insisting that the impunity offered to these de- velopers sets a dangerous prec- edent. "Even here, both parties decided to play silent hostages for fear of upsetting a major elec- toral donor, leaving residents on their own," the statement read. Borg assured the public that Il-Kollettiv is active in lobbying the authorities for a solution to the woes of residents in Safi and Swatar, where the develop- ment of numerous rationalisa- tion zones foresees a massive dumping of apartment blocks on virgin land which serves as a breathing space for the local- ities. "We are pleased to see so many residents coming together to work for their town and their own quality of life. At election season, it has become more ob- vious that they are being treated as second-class citizens in their own country," Borg concluded. EVA BRANNON ebrannon@mediatoday.com.mt The group said it is pleased to see so many residents coming together to work for their town and their own quality of life (Photo: Il-Kollettiv)