Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/834699
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 31 MAY 2017 4 News THIS IS A PAID ADVERT AD: Promised tax cuts MAT THEW AGIUS THE tax refunds, credits and deductions promised by both parties as part of their elec- toral campaigns risk bank- rupting the country and will leave Malta heavily exposed to macroeconomic f luc- tuations, says Alternattiva Demokratika, as it proposed a shift in tax burden focus off the worker and on to busi- nesses that cause pollution. Addressing a press confer- ence near the ruins of the Royal Opera House in Val- letta yesterday afternoon, AD chairperson Arnold Cas- sola expressed concern at the lavish promises being made by both Labour and the PN, warning that Malta would end up like the opera house, "without a roof over its head". "Joseph Muscat has prom- ised gradual tax refunds for 190,000 people earning as much as €60,000. Tax on part-time work will be re- duced from 15% to 10%, which also applies to self-em- ployed. Small businesses with incomes of up to €20,000 could benefit from a VAT ex- emption up from the current €14,000 threshold. The mi- cro-invest programme would be raised to maximum as- sistance of €50,000 per com- pany and €70,000 in Gozo," Cassola pointed out. The lengthy list of tax re- bates also on health insur- ance, extended tax credits to pharmacies delivering free medicines, tax exemptions of up to €50,000 on parents who use private childcare, a €30,000 tax rebate on capi- tal expenditure promised to employers who invest in tele- working were all highlighted by the Green party. "Farmers and fishermen are being promised that they will not pay any income tax if La- bour is returned to govern- ment. Labour said it would be exempting the elderly from the current 15% with- holding tax on bank deposits up to €1,000 and provide par- ents with a tax credit of up to €2,000 a year to encourage saving for their unborn chil- dren's pension plan." Cassola added measure af- ter measure to the list: spe- cial tax rates for separated or divorced persons who still pay maintenance to their former spouses, three year tax exemptions for business- es which relocate to Gozo, €5,000 tax credits to parents of Gozitan students at uni- versity. "Then there are the huge expenses promised on all kinds of roads f lyovers and undersea tunnels." The PN had made a number of risky promises of its own, "not to be outdone in this race to the bottom," AD candidate Ralph Cassar observed. The Nationalists had promised subsidised interest on home loans through tax credits, Meetings mostly attended by over 55s CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Rather than an indication of support for the parties greater num- bers in Labour meetings reflect a higher participation rate at mass meetings by Labour vot- ers. The survey indicates that 35- to 54-year olds are the most likely to attend mass meetings. While cameras tend to focus on young participants the survey indicates that while only a quar- ter of 18- to 34-year olds attend mass meetings, a third of 35- to 54-year olds do so. Over 55-year olds, 29% of whom attend meetings, are also more likely to attend meetings than the young. Mass meetings became popu- lar in the Maltese Islands in the 1970s and 1980s. In this period mass meetings were dominat- ed by the towering personali- ties of Dom Mintoff and Eddie Fenech Adami. While Mintoff excelled in parables, explaining political issues in a language understood by the crowd in a crescendo leading to his "Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox" bat- tlecry, Fenech Adami's sense of gravitas hooked thousands, who fell under his spell as soon as he uttered the "huti Maltin u Ghawdxin" opening line. For Nationalists meetings became the most reliable source of news in a media environment domi- nated by the party in govern- ment. The advent of party political stations and greater media plu- ralism reduced the importance of mass meetings in the dissem- ination of political propaganda. From the 1990s meetings took a semblance of a party to make them more attractive to the younger audience. Politicians are no longer the only attraction but they have become the head- liners, addressing the crowds buoyed by famed DJs and MOCs. Meeting are also syn- onymous with campaign songs such as "We Take the Chance" and "Win the Race" (Modern Talking), "The Final Count- down", Macarena, Children and political chants such as "Nghidu Iva" (Say Yes), "Partnership l- Ahjar Ghazla" (Partnership the Best Choice), Iva, Flimkien kollox possibbli (Yes, Together everything is possible) and "The Only Way Is Up Labour". Have you attended any mass meeting during this electoral campaign 18-34 35-54 55+ all Yes 24 32.6 27.9 28.8 No 73 65.2 71.3 69.6 No reply 3 2.2 0.8 1.6 Current PL voters Current PN voters Yes 38.9 28.6 No 59.5 69.3 No Reply 1.6 2.1