Abela pledges first-time buyer benefits for separated couples
PL Leader also promises to cover companion costs for patients receiving treatment abroad
Divorced or separated couples who bought a property together will be eligible for first-time buyer's benefits when buying a property individually, Robert Abela promised voters on Tuesday.
He also said that a PL government would pay the costs of the person accompanying a patient travelling for medical treatment abroad.
The PL leader was speaking at a campaign event in Siġġiewi on Tuesday evening when he made the two announcements.
“Those of you who are separated or divorced need to begin life anew. Usually a couple sells the matrimonial home and then each person looks to buy a property separately. The government will be there for you as well,” Abela said.
Each individual would benefit from first-time buyer tax exemptions.
Currently first time buyers do not pay tax on the first €200,000 of the price of a property. The Labour Party has already proposed to extend that figure to €300,000 if elected.
The second announcement of the evening concerned cases when adult patients need to travel abroad for medical treatment.
“Jo (Etienne Abela) and I recently travelled to meet those who are receiving treatment beyond our shores. Everyone has words of praise for our government because we cover everything not only treatment but also accommodation,” he said.
Currently parents of children under 18 receiving treatment also have their costs covered by the government.
Abela said that many receiving treatment abroad asked for the scheme to be extended.
“If elected not only will we cover the costs of the adult patient but also of someone accompanying them,” Abela said, adding this would be implemented "soon after" the election.
'We're not trying to buy the election'
Abela addressed criticism that he was trying to buy his way back into Castille with the €1,000 annual super bonus to every worker.
“I was asked just this morning if we’re trying to buy the election. We were told the same when a Labour government introduced the government bonus - they told us that we were bankrupting the country”.
Abela insisted that his government has "strong finances and can even deliver surpluses".
“We achieve this not by putting more financial pressure on our people but by managing to implement tax cut after tax cut and even introducing the super bonus,” he said, adding that the PL was committed to sharing wealth.