Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545107
7 NEWS 7 NEWS 7 maltatoday | THURSDAY • 28 MAY 2026 NEWS ELECTION 2026 CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 The Nationalist leader high- lighted the government's fail- ure to fulfil promises, citing a survey where 35% of busi- nesses reported lower profits and 60-70% said the economy was heading in the wrong di- rection. He also noted a Malta Chamber report indicating that from 2015 to 2025, only 3.1% of growth came from productivi- ty, with the rest from workforce expansion. Abela highlighted the govern- ment's record, citing the Euro- pean Commission's certifica- tion of Malta's strong economy and labour market, and a €6.3 billion manifesto with defined targets. He highlighted some key pledges: A fivefold increase in the birth bonus to €5,000, an increase in maternity leave from 18 weeks to 26 weeks, a six-month fully paid parental leave, a €5,000 learning account for students, and a €1,000 annu- al super bonus for all workers, including the self-employed. "We delivered what we prom- ised in 2022, and more," Abela said. "We promised a tax cut; we gave double. We promised pension increases; we gave more than we promised." The Labour leader also dis- missed the PN's financial pro- posals as inconsistent, pointing to a €480 million annual dis- crepancy in the "offshore petrol station" project and renewable energy targets that shifted be- tween 30% and 50% within the same electoral programme. "If you make that type of er- ror while managing a pandemic and three wars, you will destroy the country's economy and the future of our families," Abela said. The study they buried Abela criticised the PN's met- ro plan, claiming no country has completed such a project within five years, and claimed it would push Malta's deficit to 8.2% of GDP and breach Eu- ropean rules. He dismissed the PN proposal, which he said was based on a study that the fi- nance minister and himself had discarded. "That study was made accord- ing to 2017 prices. Construc- tion costs have risen by 40% since then. You have already miscalculated nearly €2 billion on this project," Abela said. Borg responded by citing a MaltaToday report from the day before, which revealed a 2023 government study com- missioned by Infrastructure Malta and carried out by Price- waterhouseCoopers. The study, Project Hestia, found that a ful- ly operational three-line metro was achievable in five years, with one line from Pembroke to the airport, known as the Blue Line, being completing in 3.2 years. The PN's own metro proposal mimics the Blue Line. "You spent the money and left the study on the shelf," Borg said. "The studies themselves tell you it is not impossible. Your former consultant said our transport project is posi- tive and will deliver significant benefits for traffic. That came from a government document, not ours." Borg also noted that Abela's own finance minister had re- fused to sign off on the cost- ings for Malta in Motion—the transport plan unveiled on the eve of the election campaign— and that the manifesto provid- ed no figures for it at all. Abela rebutted that the trans- port plan was already being im- plemented, citing new sea ferry routes, 40 kilometres of cycling lanes and free school transport. "With a chatbot, you won't go and negotiate the EU budget with the European Commis- sion," Abela said. Borg challenged Abela on corporate tax, noting Labour had promised to cut the rate from 35% to 25% at the last election and was repeating the same promise, while failing to mention that only businesses below a certain turnover would benefit. He highlighted several government financial failures: €400 million given to Vitals and Steward with no return, €160 million in bank guarantees for Electrogas, and 73 open spaces promised at the last election still undelivered. Abela dismissed the attacks, pointing to the De La Rue in- vestment as proof of his gov- ernment's focus on a high-val- ue economy, and criticised the PN's position on foreign work- ers as inconsistent. Inquiries, broken promises and the last word Borg urged Abela to fully implement the Jean Paul So- fia and Daphne Caruana Gali- zia inquiry recommendations. He then cited Judge Lawrence Mintoff's statement that the prime minister cares more about money than judicial in- dependence. "This government has had 13 years. If it truly wanted to de- liver what it is promising now, it had another budget to do so," Borg said. "Labour is stuck in the past. The Nationalist Party looks to the future." Abela mentioned ministers Ian Borg, Clyde Caruana, Sil- vio Schembri and Miriam Dalli by name, calling them a credible team and contrasting them with the PN, which he ac- cused of hiding its candidates throughout the campaign. "Our country has moved too far forward in these last 13 years to stop now," Abela said, adding that on Saturday "there is a choice for a manifesto that keeps us moving forward". Malta votes on Saturday, 30 May. The Labour Party is seek- ing a record fourth consecu- tive term, while the Nationalist Party is trying to get back into government after a lapse of 13 years. Robert Abela and Alex Borg face off in their second and last televised election debate Prime Minister Robert Abela and PN leader Alex Borg before the debate began with journalist Liam Carter (Photo: Daniel Tihn/MaltaToday)