Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1547510
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 NOVEMBER 2026 NEWS CONTINUES FROM PAGE 1 Sources within the govern- ment, unhappy with the meas- ures targeting TCNs, singled out the removal of free child- care services for non-EU work- ers as "morally reprehensible", while the infrastructure contri- bution was described as a "tax on work". The comments match the sentiment of public comments made by leftist voices. Fol- lowing the budget speech, a number of people on the left, slammed the measures as an- ti-socialist, with the Secretary General of the General Work- ers' Union, Kevin Camilleri, being among the most promi- nent voices of opposition. Former Prime Minister Al- fred Sant was the latest senior Labour voice to question the efficacy of the measures to reduce overpopulation, while calling them "unjust". According to party sources, Sant is not alone in his scepti- cism, noting that the measures are a money-grabbing exercise meant to finance the PL's super bonus pledge. Apart from the moral impli- cations of the measures, those who spoke to this newspaper were concerned the measures could have worrying conse- quences for the Maltese econ- omy and its labour force. "Malta is competing for skilled TCNs with other EU countries," one source ex- plained, insisting the measures could push foreign workers with other options to relocate elsewhere while Malta imports lower-skilled workers. MaltaToday understands that discussions within party and government circles on conces- sions and burden sharing are gaining momentum. Nonethe- less, in his interview with Mal- taToday, Caruana insisted the budget was untouchable. Meanwhile, the PL started disseminating a petition last week, asking people to support the budget by signing up. The petition accuses the Na- tionalist Party of voting against investment in families and businesses, the super bonus, and continued tax cuts for par- ents. "Through this petition, we are expressing our support of the Malta Miegħek Budget, presented by Minister Clyde Caruana, so the announced measures are translated into positive results for our fami- lies, workers, pensioners, and businesses," the petition reads. The petition is really a politi- cal gimmick since the PL has a comfortable majority in parlia- ment to pass the budget. Caruana defends socialist credentials In the face of mounting public pressure, the finance minister defended his socialist creden- tials while sitting down with MaltaToday. Caruana insisted the meas- ures come after years of con- cerns being raised about over- population, citing survey after survey in which it tops the list of concerns. He noted that as an elected representative, he is duty-bound to act on the concerns affecting the electorate, describing the Budget 2027 measures as the first step in doing so. He condemned the wave of xenophobic and racist com- ments from across society, rejecting the notion that gov- ernment attempted to ride the wave of racist sentiment. "The government is acting on what the Maltese and Gozitan people have been saying, be- cause that is its duty and what is expected of it. Now, regard- ing the comments themselves; if a comment is racist, you con- demn it. That is all," Caruana said. In his interview with MaltaToday, Caruana insisted the budget was untouchable. Meanwhile, the PL started disseminating a petition last week, asking people to support the budget by signing up Clyde Caruana (Photo: Daniel Tihn/MaltaToday) Clyde Caruana insisted the measures come after years of concerns being raised about overpopulation, citing survey after survey in which it tops the list of concerns (Photo: James Bianchi/ MaltaToday)