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3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 21 JUNE 2026 NEWS Carmelo Abela elected Speaker, president delivers government programme PARLIAMENT CONVENES PARLIAMENT met for the first time on Saturday, formally kicking off the new legislature after the 30 May general elec- tion sawa the Labour Party tri- umph. Elected candidates took their oath as MPs and in their first action voted on a motion pre- sented by Prime Minister Rob- ert Abela to elect Carmelo Ab- ela as Speaker. The vote was unanimous. Subsequently, MPs unanimously voted to elect Op- position MP Bernard Grech as deputy Speaker. The House was addressed by President Myriam Spiteri Debono, who read out the gov- ernment programme for the next five years. She said the government's success will be measured by its ability to deliver concrete im- provements to people's lives. "Responsibility will be meas- ured by the implementation of projects and initiatives that leave a concrete difference in people's lives and in every part of their lives," Spiteri Debono said. She said the legislature should focus on improving the quality of life, strengthening families and workers' rights, protecting the environment, and ensuring economic growth is measured by wellbeing as well as financial indicators. The president said the elec- tion result placed strong re- sponsibility on the government and highlighted the increased representation of women in parliament through the gender corrective mechanism. She not- ed that some women, who first entered parliament through the mechanism in the previous legislature were later elected di- rectly, describing this as a posi- tive development. Spiteri Debono also referred to the international situation, saying the election was held amid geopolitical uncertainty, marked by conflict and its eco- nomic consequences. She said the government intends to con- tinue protecting workers, fami- lies and businesses from exter- nal pressures while maintaining economic growth and responsi- ble public finances. The address outlined a pro- gramme centred on economic quality rather than quantity, touching on several pledges made during the election cam- paign, including lower taxes for businesses investing in digitali- sation, automation and artificial intelligence, a higher minimum wage, an annual untaxed €1,000 bonus for workers and a three- year tax holiday on the first €30,000 for young people enter- ing employment or launching a start-up. The president also said the government intends to place greater importance on work- life balance by extending mater- nity leave to 26 weeks, doubling paternity leave to one month, introducing six months of gov- ernment-paid parental leave, and granting additional paid leave for parents returning to work after childbirth. Housing was identified as a priority with the president an- nouncing plans to support first- time buyers, families needing larger homes, and those re- building after separation. The opening of parliament was preceded by Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Val- letta. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi urged MPs to pursue honesty and integrity. "Integrity is the consistency be- tween what one says and what one does. It is the courage to do what is right, even when it is unpopular," the bishop said. "A nation is strengthened when it is led by women and men of character, whose decisions are guided by what is right, not by convenience." JULIANA ZAMMIT jzammit@mediatoday.com.mt Carmelo Abela enterting parliament as Speaker of the House for the first time (Photo: MaltaToday/James Bianchi)