‘Our next election manifesto will be even more ambitious than the last’ - Abela

Labour’s manifesto for the next general election will be even more ambitious than its last, Robert Abela promised on Friday.

Addressing the closing of the party's 2026 congress, the prime minister drove home the message that only Labour can offer a stable government and economy.

Abela said the congress once again offered the best possible proof that the Labour movement is the best option for Gozitans and Maltese.  

He said the PL turns dreams and aspirations into reality, and even though the government was in its third legislature, it had continued to change and evolve. 

It has completed over 80 per cent of its 2022 electoral pledges, with others added onto it, including the White Rocks and Manoel Island projects, he said.  

All this was done against the backdrop of multiple challenges, the prime minister said.  

“Now is the time to start writing the next chapter. These past successes do not mean we can stop here. Instead, they should drive us to be even better”, said Abela.

“We were ambitious with our 2022 manifesto. The time has come to be even more ambitious”.

Prime Minister Robert Abela meeting congress delegates on Friday evening. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.

Labour’s 2026 congress was a week-long event launched in Gozo under the theme “Stronger Malta”, designed to shape the party’s electoral manifesto through talks with delegates, social partners and civil society.  

It was held amid growing speculation about a snap election, which the prime minister has refused to rule out.  

The prime minister said the ideas discussed during the congress will feature in Labour’s election manifesto.  

'Only in Malta have prices remained stable'

Abela told delegates gathered in Ta’ Qali that only Labour is capable of turning people’s dreams and aspirations into reality and protecting them from instability abroad.  

“We are the only government that is shielding families and businesses. All around us, electricity prices are exploding. Only in Malta have prices remained stable and sustainable. 

“This is because we sought to protect families and businesses through our progressive economic policies…Other countries are talking about energy rationing, while we are telling you to keep on enjoying your lives, as no matter what happens, we will be here for you.”  

The prime minister assured delegates that the government had a war chest of “€250 million and counting” to help combat rising energy and fuel costs.  

Abela described the current global circumstances as even more challenging than the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Tax cuts

He said the Opposition, instead of reaching out with a helping hand, had tried to scaremonger about Malta’s energy supply by claiming the country had not secured an energy supply for after August.  

Abela rubbished claims this morning that Malta will run out of power plant gas or aviation fuel.  

He questioned where the Opposition stood on energy subsidies, quipping, “I lost track of all their different versions”. 

Abela said the economic crisis faced by the PN government had seen them backpedal on their promise of a tax cut.

By contrast, a Labour government had given successive tax cuts whilst facing far bigger crises.

The prime minister said this was only possible because of the government’s competent management of the economy. Only a Labour government can offer this competence, Abela said.