As wars rage, Abela champions neutrality, pledges support to cushion fuel hikes

Robert Abela emphasised the importance of Malta's neutrality in times of war, as the Labour Party gathered for its annual Freedom Day celebration on Monday.

Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister dedicated a large portion of his speech to outlining the benefits of Malta’s neutrality, emphasising that ongoing international instability had given the constitutional provision additional significance on Freedom Day.

“In the last years we had to almost justify the need of being neutral; many were saying it no longer has value in the modern day, today we no longer talk about the relevance of freedom day,” he said.

The PM noted that other independent countries in the Middle East, home to foreign military bases, had been attacked in recent weeks. 

“They have lost their security, the most important ingredient for prosperity,” he said.

The PM's words came as the US and Israel continued their attacks on Iran, which has responded by lashing out at US allies across the region. Russia's war on Ukraine, meanwhile, continues into its fourth year. 

Abela said Malta had also managed to achieve economic freedom through its prosperity, now recording the lowest unemployment rate seen across the EU. 

While other countries were facing fuel price hikes and preparing for shortages, Abela pledged to continue stabilising fuel prices through energy subsidies, while also announcing a new policy to increase the country’s renewable energy output. 

He added that the government would also open up solar panel investments to people who do not own their own airspace, as part of a government aim of meeting a quarter of the country's needs by renewables.

Abela said the government would soon launch an energy strategy covering the next 25 years. 

Abela lighting the ceremonial brazier. Photo: DOI.

Pledging that his government would continue to fight against discrimination and inequality, Abela said work on establishing a human rights commission was nearing completion.

The commission will be autonomous and answer only to Parliament, he said. 

Abela noted that Cabinet had also approved laws to protect adults with disabilities and promote their autonomy.

After speaking, Abela, like Labour leaders before him, climbed the Freedom Monument in front of Vittoriosa church with a torch in hand to light the brazier at the top of the monument. 

Shortly before the PM ascended the monument, several people, including Disability rights activist Oliver Scicluna and human rights lawyer Sara Ezebe, were shown on screens lighting other braziers across different parts of the country.

The Labour Party also showed a series of short video clips outlining Malta’s path to March 31, 1979, starting with a clip detailing Maltese patriot Manwel Dimech, who was exiled from Malta by the British, died in Alexandria and is buried in an unmarked grave. 

The video clips were interspersed by dance recitals, poem readings and songs.

Economist Jonathan Spiteri and politics professor Godfrey Pirotta also gave speeches at the event. 

'I was sure he was going to call it'

This year's Freedom Day celebrations came amid speculation that Abela might use the celebration to announce the date of a highly anticipated general election.

Abela kept those present and others watching on television on edge as he spoke of the government’s need for the people’s “support” on two occasions, but did not pull the electoral trigger. 

“We worked so hard for others to again impose their politics of prejudice and austerity, that is why we need the people’s support,” Abela said as the seated crowd of ministers and party officials stood and clapped. 

People at the event described a sense of anticipation as he said those words. 

One PL official said: “Realistically, Abela would have never called it [the election] in Holy Week, but for a moment you could feel the square quiet down to see if he was actually going to do it.”

“He’s definitely flirting with the date,” he said, while another said, "At one point I was sure he was about to call it".