As it happened: PN's tax cut pledges dominate day 10
Labour doubles down on fuel smuggling claim, Borg urges Abela to go to the police
The tenth day of the electoral campaign is turning into a tit-for-tat on tax cuts after the PN announced it would introduce sweeping reforms if elected. However, the incumbent Finance Minister Clyde Caruana quickly pulled out his calculator and pointed out someone got the math wrong on the true cost of such a generous measure.
Meanwhile the Labour Party doubled down on its claims that the PN built its offshore fuel hub proposal around a suggestion from a fuel smuggler but Alex Borg swore he never met any illegal fuel trader.
The election campaign is in full swing, and Times of Malta is covering all the biggest moments as they happen.
Day 10: As it happened
No VAT for NGOs
8.27pm: Alex Borg has just announced that a Nationalist government would refund all VAT to registered NGOs and will create a scheme so those NGOs operating out of rented government property will be able to buy the property.
Alex Borg in Zejtun. Photo: Jonathan BorgMental health hospital tender awarded
8.08pm: Robert Abela has just announced that the tender for a new mental health hospital in Mater Dei Hospital has been awarded. The contract will be signed "in the coming days".
Robert Abela during an "interview" in Mellieha. Photo: Chris Sant FournierThe elderly as first-time buyers
7.38pm: Over in Mellieħa, Robert Abela has just announced that elderly homeowners who sell their home to buy a smaller property will be considered as first-time buyers.
“These people never benefited from any scheme, they had to work hard all their lives. They will now find us by their side”.
Robert Abela met supporters of all ages before starting Thursday evening's event. Photo: Chris Sant FournierMeet PN's candidates on District 3
7.37pm: Alex Borg is introducing PN's candidates on District 3
Robert Abela in Mellieħa
7.25pm: Follow the "interview" with PL leader Robert Abela here.
Look who's in Mellieħa
7.18pm: Despite pulling out of the election race, former tourism minister Clayton Bartolo still turned up to show his support to PL leader Robert Abela this evening. His wife Amanda Muscat was also spotted among the crowd.
Bartolo had resigned following a months-long saga in late 2024 after revelations that his wife was given an advisor role first in Bartolo's own office and then with Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri. Bartolo was later removed from the PL parliamentary group.
Amanda Muscat in Mellieha on Thursday evening. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier
Clatyon Bartolo in Mellieha waiting for the PL event to begin.Omar Rababah approved
6.45pm: After enduring days of racist and Islamophobic abuse, Omar Rababah has been approved as a candidate by an overwhelming majority of the Labour Party executive this evening. He will contest Districts 6 and 7.
Green tech economy
6.22pm: While the two major parties are battling it out over fuel hubs and tax cuts, ADPD is insisting Malta’s future should be built on green tech, with a special focus on research, eco-innovation, and technologies that are “kinder to our environment”.
“An economy that is overly reliant on a number of limited industries is a vulnerable economy. So what the country really needs is a broad variety of sectors, such as manufacturing, services, crafts, agriculture, as well as creative, cultural, and digital services. These should also respect the wellbeing of the people and the limited ecology of our country. They should not only respect our quality of life but also improve it," say ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci and candidate Brian Decelis.
ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci and ADPD (Districts 6 and 12) and PRO Brian Decelis (Districts 3 and 4). Photo: ADPDThe evening events
6.19pm: It’s been a busy day already for the two major political parties but the campaigning is not over yet. Both PN and PL are hosting events this evening at 6.30pm.
Alex Borg will be at Misraħ Wistin Abela, iż-Żejtun to introduce candidates contesting District 3.
Robert Abela will be heading to Mellieħa’s main square for an “interview”.
And we’ll be there to bring you the latest updates.
'It's a scandal'
5.08pm: PN MP Mark Anthony Sammut said solar panels installed on schools in Gozo have never been connected to the grid, leading schools to miss out on 73% of potential solar energy. Sammut called it a "scandal" that highlights government's lack of credibility on renewables.
Robert Abela goes to school
4.41pm: While we were busy getting our heads round proposed tax cuts, Robert Abela visited MCAST where he told students that internships and traineeships will be recognised in law and will be “fairly” paid.
Journalists were not invited to this visit but the Labour pr machine made sure to send us photos.
Robert Abela visited MCAST on Thursday morning with incumbent Education Minister Clifton Grima. Photo: PLSuccession tax games
3.46pm After the PN pledged to remove the succession tax on inherited family businesses completely, the PL has just announced it would cut the tax from 5% down to 1.5%.
PN on energy
3.44pm Meanwhile over in the PN camp, another press conference is under way with Eve Borg Bonello, Mark Anthony Sammut and Rebekah Borg about a "scandal that shows the government's incompetence in the energy sector".
Clyde Caruana punches holes in PN's tax cuts
3.30pm The PL wasted no time in finding fault with the PN's proposed tax cuts. Pick up a calculator, Caruana said. Multiply 300,000 (workers) by €1,200 = €360million - the true cost of these tax cuts.
Alex Borg claimed "since it will be introduced gradually over two years, the initial cost will be around €110 million to €130 million per year."
Labour press conference begins
3.27pm They're only just under 30 minutes late but here's the link to follow the PL's second press conference of the day. This one is being addressed by incumbent Finance Minister Clyde Caruana and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard.
Labour press call for 3pm
1.54pm The Labour Party has just issued a call for a second press conference at 3pm. Clyde Caruana and Jonathan Attard will speak at the conference. Could we expect a reaction to the PN's tax proposals? Labour tends to reserve these afternoon pressers for such things.
Too cool for school
1.27pm Election time can be a bit of a free for all. St Monica School in Gżira has just complained that a political party used the school's uniform in election campaign material without the school's knowledge or consent.
The school said it is independent and concerned only with the educational and holistic formation of its students.
Omar Rababah takes the plunge
1.20pm It's official: Omar Rababah has submitted his nomination to contest the election as a Labour Party candidate.
He posted a short clip of himself walking into Labour HQ with his submission in hand.
It was a bumpy start for Rababah's electoral journey. When he announced his intention to contest, he was met with a barrage of hate and xenophobic comments. Politicians across the board came out to support him, and now he has taken the official step to become a candidate.
PN launches a tax calculator
13.02pm If you're not too sure how the PN's tax reform will affect you, the party planned ahead and prepared an online calculator. Just write in your gross annual income and tax status, and it will tell you how much of your income you will keep under its own tax regime.
A screenshot of the PN's tax calculator.Tourism pledges from the PL
12.32pm Neville Borg has the full report on the PL's press conference earlier. A new Labour government will create a €30 million fund for restaurants, give local councils a chunk of the eco-contribution paid by tourists, and improve home porting services in the Grand Harbour.
Midday catch-up
12.14pm It's lunchtime now and it's been a busy morning on the camp trail. Here's a quick round-up of the main headlines so far:
- Alex Borg signed an affidavit denying having ever met a contrabandist or anyone involved in any illegal activity connected to the PN's proposed fuel investment.
- The Labour Party has clarified that its corporate tax reduction will only apply to retained profits, while dividends will be taxed in line with shareholders' personal income tax rates.
- The PN approved five new candidates for the general election on Wednesday. Find the names here.
- Young voters see the coming election as a choice between the lesser of two evils.
- A lighter read: Meet the (un)lucky couples getting married on election day.
Gozo as an EU region
12.02pm New proposals are in from Momentum, and this time, they're calling for Gozo to be made a genuine EU region. They want to replace the current semi-autonomous status with a directly elected regional council, unlocking European regional funding currently inaccesssible to Gozo.
Momentum is also speaking about local councils today. They want mayors working full-time with professional salaries, while the councils themselves should have access to new revenue streams, including short-let licence fees and traffic fines.
The party also says waste collection responsibility to be handed back to local councils, with voluntary coordination between neighbouring localities where it makes sense geographically.
New income source for local councils
11.50am Meanwhile at the Labour conference, Alison Zerafa Civella announced that a portion of the eco-contribution paid by tourists will start going to local councils, to mitigate the impact of tourism on towns.
€1,000 skills wallet
11.31am More on that €1,000 skills wallet the PN proposed earlier.
It would be worth up to €1,000 every three years, be for everyone from 18 until retirement years, and it would be available for every adult whether they are working, studying, taking care of the home or self-employed.
Borg signs affidavit on fuel smuggler claim
11.30am Towards the end of the PN press conference, Alex Borg presented an affidavit to the press. In it, he states that he never met with any contrabandist or anyone involved with any illegality with regards to the PN's fuel investment. He again categorically denied any of the claims made by the prime minister and they were said to damage his reputation.
The affidavit Alex Borg shared with journalists at the conference. Photo: Emma Borg.A €30m restaurant fund
11.25am Neville Borg also has some details from the Labour Party press conference. Ian Borg has just announced a €30 million fund for restaurants. Each restaurant can apply to receive a maximum of €300,000 to improve its product, carry out renovations or train their staff.
Confused about PL's tax plans?
11.23am Robert Abela and Clyde Caruana's pledge to cut corporate tax for companies with an annual turnover of under €1 million caused some confusion on Monday.
Neville Borg looked into the pledge and found it would only apply to a company’s retained profits and that dividends would be taxed in line with the shareholders’ personal income tax rates.
Take a look at Borg's explainer here.
Muscat blasts PN's pump plans
11.18am Joseph Muscat has long been out of politics, but he still likes to share his thoughts and criticisms on his Facebook page. His latest post deals with the PN's fuel hub proposal.
He says he finds it hypocritical that people who oppose ODZ construction are silent about a major industrial development in ecologically sensitive Mediterranean waters.
He's also saying that the numbers don't add up. He argues that the PN's cited figure of €450 million falls short of the real cost of the proposal, which Muscat estimates at €690 million.
Plans for the weekend?
11.15am PL party faithful are gearing up for a mass meeting on Triq il-Kottoner at 4.30pm this Sunday, next to the Cottonera Sports Complex. Meanwhile, PN supporters will be meeting in Siggiewi also on Sunday at 5pm.
Tax reform details
10.48am We have a clearer idea of how the PN wants to change the tax bands. The PN will apply the 15% and 25% rates on a wider income segment, while the 35% tax rate will only be used on income above €80,000.
Adrian Delia says this will affect 300,000 workers, and at least €1,200 saved every year by everyone. This would cost a PN government €110-€130 million a year.
Under the PN's new tax system, the 35% tax rate will only apply on income above €80,000PN wants tax band reform
10.43am Emma Borg has a taster of what has been said so far in the press conference. A PN in government would reform the tax bands system and lower taxes for everyone. Every year, the tax bands would widen in parallel to the yearly COLA increase, to make sure the adjustment is not taxed.
The PN would also set up a skills wallet, worth €1,000 every three years to let working people develop their skills.
Alex Borg flanked by Adrian Delia on the left and David Pace Ross on the right. Photo: Christian Sant Fournier.PN presser kicks off
10.24am Almost an hour after the initial press call, the PN's press conference is kicking off. Alex Borg and Adrian Delia are expected to discuss the PN's taxation proposals in more detail.
Need a ride to the voting station?
10.18am If you need help getting to your voting station on May 30, the Nationalist Party is offering a transport service. All you need to do is call their election committee on 2596 5501.
PL calls presser for 11am
10.13am We're still waiting for the PN's press conference to start. In the meantime, the Labour Party has published its own press call for 11am. Ian Borg, Alison Zerafa Civelli and Cressida Galea will speak at the conference, which will be held near the Hyatt Regenecy hotel.
Later in the day, the Nationalist Party will hold a party activity in Żejtun at 6.30pm, while the Labour Party will be in Mellieħa at the same time.
'The lesser of two evils'
9.45am Students as young as 16 can have their say in the upcoming election, but while political parties roll out daily proposals and campaign promises, some young voters seem disillusioned.
Our journalist Emma Borg went to the university and MCAST campuses to see who students are voting for... if they are voting at all.
Several told her they feel forced to choose between what they see as the lesser of two evils.
Wedding bells on election weekend
9.40am The snap announcement of a general election sent many parents scambling to reorganise their plans for First Holy Communion celebrations.
Similarly, wedding celebrations planned for election weekend were thrown into disarray.
Can one risk a fallout between their family members on the best day of their lives?
Our journalist, Fiona Galea Debono, looked into concerns over the political backdrop affecting wedding celebrations this May.
Should politicians visit schools during a campaign?
9.25am It's a recurring question that comes up during every campaign. Some young students are voting for the first time, but do politicians belong in schools?
Ten days into the campaign, and Momentum slammed PL's "partisan visit" to a post-secondary school.
In a strongly worded statement, the small party condemned a visit by the party's deputy leaders to a state post-secondary educational institution.
The party noted that many post-secondary students are eligible voters and are in the process of forming their own independent political views, so the presence of high-ranking partisan figures within a school setting risks creating implicit pressure on students, blurring the line between education and political campaigning.
PN's new faces?
9.20am Meanwhile, the PN late on Wednesday night approved five new candidates for the May 30 election.
All five will be contesting a general election for the first time:
- Joseph Aquilina on the tenth district
- David Bonello on the tenth and twelfth
- Miriana Calleja Testaferrata de Noto on the third and fifth districts
- Antonello Cuschieri on the first district
- George Vital Zammit on the sixth and twelfth districts
PN calls press conference on inheritance tax
9pm The first press conference for the day has been called by PN.
We've been told the 9.30am press meeting at the party headquarters in Pieta will provide details about the party's promises on taxes linked to inherited property, which Alex Borg announced on Wednesday.
These are the three main pledges:
- Inheritance transfers will not be taxed.
- Succession tax on family businesses will be removed.
- Tax on the donation of immovable properties will also be eliminated.
Those fuel smuggling claims
8.55am Robert Abela made, and repeated, an explosive claim on Wednesday that the person behind the PN proposal for an offshore fuel hub was "Malta's biggest fuel smuggler".
Borg has denied the allegations and dared Abela to go to the police with the claim. Meanwhile, everyone is speculating as to who Abela could be referring to - and how a supposedly known fuel smuggler has such easy access to the halls of Castille and Dar Ċentrali.