Day 16: Labour open to talks on solar rights as Borg pledges money to unions
Follow events throughout the day with our live blog
The Labour government concluded the Manoel Island deal while the PN courted trade unions on day 16 of the general election campaign.
Robert Abela was busy at the signing ceremony for the Manoel Island deal in the morning, where journalists pressed him on matters of construction and conflicts of interest.
The PN met with UĦM - Voice of the Workers and pledged more funding for trade unions to be 'policy partners' with the government.
Later in the day, Labour pledged to "explore" introducing solar rights for people who invest in panels on their roofs, to ensure that their sunlight will not be blocked. The PL government will consider paying a one-time compensation to those people whose PV panels end up in the shade because a neighbour’s building rises higher
Here's a recap of the day's events
Live blog
Wrapping up here
5.43pm We're going to stop the live blog here for the day, but the Times of Malta journalists will still be roaming about covering the latest from the campaign trail, so keep an eye out on the homepage.
We will also be reporting on the PN's mass rally in Qormi and Labour's event in Floriana.
Delia causes a scene at Karin Grech Hospital
5.03pm It looks like Adrian Delia barged into Karin Grech Hospital on Wednesday, mobile in hand and ready to film, but was stopped by three security guards.
At the start of the video, the guards are seen shoving their hands at the camera. Eventually, one of the guards speaks directly to the camera and says photos or videos are prohibited at the hospital without prior permission.
Delia was trying to make a statement about the poor investment in the healthcare sector under the Labour government.
Conrad Borg Manche to speak at PN rally
4.48pm Conrad Borg Manche has just taken to Facebook to explain why he is contesting the election with the Nationalist Party.
He said his loyalty is not towards any party but towards the people. He said the delayed Family Court reform pushed him over the edge. "I had to choose between being silent or fighting for what is right. I chose to fight."
Borg Manche will speak at the PN's mass rally in Qormi tonight.
PN candidates speak on security
3.15pm PN candidates Beppe Fenech Adami, Edmond Cuschieri and Frank Tabone are speaking about the country's crime and security. Watch it in the video below.
Where are they tonight?
2.45pm Robert Abela will speak in Floriana at 6.30pm and again in Sliema at 8pm.
Alex Borg will lead a PN rally in Qormi. That begins at 6.30pm.
ADPD's digital dream
1.55pm ADPD has published a list of proposals for how technology can be used to improve people’s everyday lives. Candidate Luke Caruana (districts 12 and 13) says the EU must reduce its dependence on US tech giants and that Malta has a role to play in that. Among other things, ADPD would like to see:
- Investment in Maltese-language digital tools and platforms.
- Recognition of digital rights as fundamental human rights.
- AI regulation and inclusive access to digital tools
Momentum's waste management proposals
1.36pm Momentum candidate Alastair Farrugia (4th and 5th districts) outlines the party’s vision for waste management. It is focused on three main points:
- Aligning waste recovery and reuse with the EU Circular Economy Action Plan“This means building real infrastructure for sorting and processing, not handing out recycling bags and hoping for the best. Incineration and landfill should be last resorts, not the default,” he says.
- Ban single-use plastic and phase out plastic packaging in supermarkets “This is not about punishing businesses. It is about sitting down with industry and finding workable alternatives together, because cooperation will always deliver better results than rules imposed without support.”
- Implement a clear national roadmap towards zero plastic “Malta talks about going green but has no concrete plan to eliminate plastic waste. Momentum in Parliament will push for a clear, step-by-step national roadmap showing exactly how and when we will reduce plastic use across all sectors of society.”
Padel conflict of interest?
1.30pm Abela is asked about a potential conflict of interest concerning the Manoel Islands padel court saga.
The executive chairperson of the Planning Authority, Johann Buttigieg, was photographed playing padel with the man behind the illegal padel courts that the PA must now decide on.
Abela says Buttigieg is not part of the board that will decide on the application. Anyone with a conflict of interest “knows how they should handle themselves."
Abela on construction
1.12pm Abela makes it clear, once again, that he has no intention of impinging on people’s so-called right to develop. It would be socially unjust to landowners to suddenly change the rules, he says.
He argues that government projects like those at Manoel Island and White Rocks "strike a balance" between construction and the creation of open recreational spaces.
Abela also says there are talks with Żurrieq residents concerning private development in the Nigret and Ta-Bebbux areas. State-owned land there will not be developed, he says.
He then adds that if the developer in the area is trying to salami-slice applications in the area, the PA should take note and act accordingly.
Who walks them all?
1pm Abela reveals he and his family have eight – 8! – dogs.
He’s answering a softball question about what went through his head as he walked through Manoel Island with children earlier today.
Alex Borg: 'No reason' PN has fewer women
12.50pm The Nationalist Party is presenting fewer women candidates this time round than it did four years ago. We asked Alex Borg about that. The PN leader downplayed it, saying there's no real reason for the shortage.
Here's what he told Giulia Magri.
Abela pledges 'discussion' on solar rights
12.45pm Back to Abela, who says he is open to creating a system of compensation for anyone whose PV panels end up in the shade because a neighbour’s building rises higher. It’s the first time we’ve heard Labour make a reference to solar rights.
Earlier, he also said Water Services Corporation will be working on a project to extract magnesium from brine that is left following reverse osmosis treatment. The magnesium will then be sold.
Alex Borg pledges funding to unions
12.35pm In comments to journalists outside UĦM union offices, Alex Borg made two pledges:
1. To increase state aid to unions and social partners, with capping rising to €100k a year
2. To make new funding available for Malta-registered unions
Alex Borg speaking outside UĦM offices. Photo: Giulia Magri'We planted 60,000 trees'
12.30pm He also talks up work to turn the former Sant Antin waste treatment plant into a 24,000 square metre family park and ongoing works to develop a 40,000 square metre open area in Fgura.
“We planted 60,000 trees in this past legislature,” Abela says. [In its 2022 electoral manifesto, Labour pledged to plant 100,000 over five years.]
No future development in parks, Abela pledges
12.25pm Abela makes a pledge: Local plans will be amended to ensure Manoel Island, White Rocks and all other parks being created within development zones are ringfenced and shielded from any future development.
He also pledges extensions to parks in Wied Inċita, Bengħajsa and Salina.
Robert Abela press conference
12.20pm Labour leader Robert Abela is holding a press conference at the White Rocks complex.
Watch it in the video below.
Overseas voting rights
11.55am Earlier this week, we reported that a Maltese man living in Kenya, Karl Schembri, has legally challenged the government’s failure to provide him with a way of voting in general elections.
Alex Borg said yesterday that he is in favour of allowing overseas citizens to vote at Maltese embassies.
But, Schembri notes, the devil is in the detail. Does Borg mean giving overseas citizens everywhere the right to vote? Or just getting rid of cheap election flights and limiting that overseas voting privilege to Maltese citizens living in EU countries?
Alex Borg meets union workers
11.50am Alex Borg is meeting union workers at UĦM – Voice of the Workers at lunchtime. Journalists have been invited to attend the end of the event and ask questions.
Robert Abela to speak at 12pm
10.55am Labour has called a press conference for 12pm. It will be held at the White Rocks complex in Pembroke.
Opaque political financing
10.25am By law, political parties must file audited accounts with the electoral commission each year. But if they don’t, nothing happens: no fines, no reprimands, nothing.
And even when parties abide by the letter of the law, they completely disregard its spirit by not filing the accounts of their associated companies, such as their media arms. Both Labour and the PN have kept audited accounts of some of those companies hidden for decades.
The Daphne Foundation would like our politicians to do something about that and various other major problems concerning political financing (such as only making candidate expenses visible for a two-week period, or allowing parties to keep 99% of their donations hidden).
You can read more about its proposals – and see the full policy document – here.
Labour makes a disability pledge
10.05am Labour is promising young adults with disabilities a €1,000 voucher to help cover therapy costs. Robert Abela made the pledge during a campaign event on Tuesday evening - you can read more about it here.
The pledge would presumably tie into another promise the party made earlier in the campaign: to make all disability therapy free for children.
Manoel Island deal concluded today
9.30am Robert Abela will not be holding a press conference this morning. Instead, he’ll be signing the deal handing Manoel Island and Fort Tigne back to public ownership.
The deal with MIDI will be concluded at a signing ceremony to be held at 10am today.
Momentum to unveil manifesto tomorrow
9.20am Speaking of Momentum: the Arnold Cassola-led party has just announced that it will be presenting its electoral manifesto tomorrow at 11. It’s titled ‘Manifesto for a Just and Beautiful Malta.’
Momentum's manifesto cover.Red alert for green bond
9am Momentum is not impressed by governance standards at state-owned entities.
On Tuesday, we reported that the MFSA has suspended trading in Malta’s first-ever ‘green bond’ because Water Services Corporation did not publish audited accounts in time.
Carmel Asciak, Momentum candidate on the 12th and 13th districts, said in a statement that ministers and political appointees responsible for state entities “must answer for failures occurring under their watch.”
Momentum said people deserve to know how the problem arose, who carried the can for it and what is being done to avoid a repeat.
Space for candidates
8.55am Good morning and welcome to this live blog.
We’re halfway through the general election campaign. The parties have unveiled many of the proposals. Now more of their focus will shift towards introducing their candidates to voters.
Alex Borg held a press conference with all the party’s candidates on Tuesday afternoon, and Labour gave various candidates plenty of talking time during its evening event.