Day 7: PN's plan to slash energy bills and Labour's 'super bonus' pledge
It was another day full of political promises... and hate speech
Labour has promised workers an annual €1,000 non-taxable "super bonus" and lower corporate tax for smaller companies, while the Nationalist Party says it will slash people's electricity bills by up to 41% while covering the cost by massively ramping up solar power generation.
In the evening, Robert Abela revealed even more promises from a future Labour government: 10 days of sports leave for athletes and free dietary and physical activity plans for obese children. Alex Borg, meanwhile, continued lambasting the government for using its resources to remain in power and muddying the distinction between the party and the administration.
Meanwhile, the fallout from the drama surrounding Omar Rababah's run on the Labour ticket intensified throughout the day, with a former president, a former commissioner and his wife hitting back at the hate.
As it happened
Live blog ends
10pm That's all for today. Thank you for joining us. Join us again tomorrow to keep updated about the main political events of the day.
Rababah's political debut as a teenager
9.45pm Before we sign off for the day - a day replete with political promises and hate speech - Rababah has broken the silence with a nostalgic video of himself aged 14, when he was a Ħandaq Secondary School student.
In the video, an enthusiastic Rababah speaks of how he had contested the school council election and received the most votes.
"Fellow students did not ask about my surname before voting for me. They voted for me as they knew who I was and loved me," he wrote on Facebook on Monday evening.
"I've always loved politics - it comes naturally for me to try to help out and improve things. This is the politics I believe in. Politics of love and not hate."
New and old promises
9.30pm If you were caught in traffic or were too busy having dinner while the main party leaders were discussing their ideas with party supporters, take a look at Magri's recap of PN's event here and Meilak's summary of the PL discussion here.
Lost or damaged your voting card?
9pm It has not yet been 24 hours since voting documents started being distributed, and the Electoral Commission has already issued instructions on what to do if one has lost or damaged their document.
There are others who, although their name appears in the electoral register, the commission could not issue a voting document as it has some missing data, such as their photo.
If you're one of these people, check out this article on how to apply for a new document.
Borg says Abela cancelled debate on Xtra
8.20pm Giulia Magri, who is reporting on the PN event in Żurrieq, says Borg just claimed Abela cancelled a debate with him on Saviour Balzan's Xtra, aired on TVM.
The PN leader also lashes out at the government for not clearly distinguishing between state and party matters.
He laments that government billboards turned into PL propaganda overnight on the day Abela announced the date for the general election.
A PN flag featuring the PN's leader. Photo: Jonathan Borg10 days of sports leave for athletes
8pm Here's a taster of what's been announced at the Labour event so far.
First, a re-elected Labour government will launch a dietary initiative that will give kids suffering from obesity access to a dietitian. The dietitian would draw a tailored dietary and physical activity plan for them.
Next, the free gym membership scheme will be widened to include hybrid training or functional training facilities, such as obstacle course gyms.
Athletes will also benefit from 10 days of sports leave to participate in international competitions.
Meilak will provide a more detailed report at the end of the event.
Clint Azzopardi Flores to contest district 2 and 9
7.45pm Our journalist Nicole Meilak reports that Clint Azzopardi Flores has just announced in Santa Venera that he's going to submit his candidature for the election in the 2nd and 9th districts.
The economist previously ran on the PL ticket in the 2024 European Parliament elections.
PN has 'much more to announce'
7.30pm Borg kicks off the discussion by reiterating the party's promise of reduced utility bills by January.
He also downplays comments that the party was not prepared for the election: “We have much more to announce... our vision is not made up of empty words, pr and stunts".
Alex Borg greeted by supporters. Photo: Jonathan BorgHobbies and loved ones
7.20pm Meanwhile, in Santa Venera, the PL is discussing wellbeing. In the crowd are supporters of various first district candidates, including Keith Azzopardi Tanti and Cressida Galea.
The first question put to Abela is: what does "quality of life" mean to you?
He says quality of life is about having time to spend on one's hobbies or loved ones.
Abela discussing wellbeing in Santa Venera. Photo: Matthew MirabelliBorg turns up in Żurrieq
7.15pm Borg has finally also arrived in Żurrieq, where he is greeting party supporters.
Abela discusses 'quality of life'
7pm Abela has arrived in Santa Venera for the PL evening event.
'People should know about every cent spent by the government'
6.30pm As we wait for PL and PN supporters to take their seats in Santa Venera and Żurrieq, here is a look at Momentum's latest proposals for the upcoming general election.
The party has come up with ways of making public spending and political behaviour transparent by default rather than by request.
These include a real-time public spending ledger, a searchable contract database and a transparency watch website.
Photo of people turning up for the PN event in Zurrieq: Jonathan BorgBetting on Abela
5.33pm Robert Abela is the overwhelming favourite to be re-elected prime minister later this month, according to bets placed on crypto prediction market Polymarket, which gives him a 95% chance of victory against Alex Borg’s 5%.
Widely considered the world’s largest prediction market, Polymarket opened betting on Malta’s upcoming general election over the past weekend.
We should probably point out here that betting on election results in Malta remains illegal.
Neville Borg has the story.
PLPN tonight
5.20pm Both PN and PL have scheduled a "discussion" for 6.30pm.
Alex Borg is set to address a political activity on Triq il-Kbira, Żurrieq, while Robert Abela will address party enthusiasts at Misraħ il-Kebbies, Santa Venera.
'1,000 roads in two years'
5pm The Transport Ministry has sent us a press release - complete with photos and footage of Chris Bonett addressing a dozen people from a podium - about work completed on "1,000 roads in two years".
The event does not appear to have been open to the media, but Bonett says that in the past two years, the authorities ensured the public was kept updated about the roadworks, ensuring cooperation from residents.
The minister adds that these Infrastructure Malta roadworks were carried out during ongoing projects at the Msida Creek, Buġibba Square and Marsascala.
Bonett speaking against a backdrop that reads '1,000 roads in the past two years'. Photo: DOI‘Malta is Omar's country’
3.50pm The hate spewed at Omar Rababah continues unabated, but several are coming out in support of the man's candidacy.
Among them, former EU Commissioner and former minister Helena Dalli reflects on the shameful reaction in her opinion piece His only crime is his surname, which you can read here.
Rababah's wife, Angel Mizzi, has also hit back at the “lies” levelled at him. “Malta is his country,” Mizzi says in a heartfelt appeal.
'PL criticises PN, but then copies its ideas'
3.25pm Borg lashed out at several of the PL's electoral promises, such as the birth bonus bump and the 'compressed workweek', saying Labour had criticised similar proposals by the Opposition.
It was the PN that had first proposed the so-called child trust fund and also suggested a four-day week.
Now that the election is approaching, the PL is copying their proposals, she said.
You can read our full report here.
PN holds a press conference about 'PL's U-turns'
3.14pm PN's Rebekah Borg and Errol Cutajar are addressing a press conference about "Labour's U-turns" during the election campaign.
Miriam Dalli: PN numbers 'don't add up'
2.45pm Labour is picking holes in the PN’s energy plan, with [now former] energy minister Miriam Dalli saying “the numbers don’t add up.”
In a video reel, Dalli says the calculations presented by the party are wrong and don’t make mathematical sense.
PN calls press conference
2.17pm The Nationalist Party will be holding a press conference at 3pm at party headquarters. We're told it will focus on"Labour's U-turns during the campaign.
Holy Communion chaos
2.12pm First Holy Communion celebrations have been thrown into disarray after Malta’s snap election was set for the same weekend. Some parishes have changed the dates or times of the celebrations, while others have cancelled traditional processions.
Fiona Galea Debono has more.
A financial wellness manifesto
2pm Our politicians are clearly very good at spending our tax money. But how keen are they to help us save it?
A local personal finance coach, Luca Caruana, has unveiled his own ‘financial wellness manifesto’ – a list of five proposals he’d like politicians to take up. They range from making financial education compulsory in schools, to creating a ‘first-time investor’ scheme to encourage people to invest some of their savings.
Luca runs our fortnightly Money Coach column. Here’s last week’s article, in case you missed it.
Jedi mind tricks
1pm The two big parties have spent the morning tossing virtual euro notes at voters. Momentum, meanwhile, is celebrating Star Wars Day with a light-hearted post featuring its secretary general and party leader. May the 4th be with you indeed.
May the fourth be with you. Photo: FacebookMore on PN's plan to slash bills
12pm The PN says its energy plan will reduce people's bills by between 21% and 41%, covering that cost by investing in renewables.
More on Labour's bonus and tax pledge
11.45am Labour is promising annual bonus payments to workers and lower tax rates for small companies. Read our full report here.
Abela: We may be criticised
11.15am Abela acknowledges he may be criticised by the OSCE and others for the 'super bonus' pledge (it's got a distinct 'cash-for-votes' whiff to it).
Workers with an annual income of over €12,000 will get the full €1,000 bonus. Those with income lower than that will get it pro rata, with a minimum €500.
A 'super bonus' 'tax cut'
11.05am Clyde Caruana provides a bit more detail about this €1,000 bonus: all workers, including self-employed, pensioners and part-timers will be eligible, he says.
The payment is not a one-off - it will be paid out on a yearly basis - and it will not be taxable.
Caruana says it will cost €200 million to implement. We're not quite sure what to call it, as Caruana and Abela alternated between “tax cut” and “super bonus”.
Rebranded cheques and lower corporate tax
11am During the 2022 campaign, Labour promised workers cheques in the post.
Now they're planning to reform that system by dishing out annual €1,000 'hard work bonus' payments.
Abela also promises:
- Companies with less than €1 million in turnover will pay a reduced corporate tax rate of 25% (down from 35%).
- Children's allowance to rise by €250 for families with under €40,000 in income
- In-work benefit to rise to €250 per child
Robert Abela speaks at press conference
10.50am Robert Abela is speaking at a press conference in Ta' Qali.
Watch it live in the video below.
KM Malta lines ringing off the hook
10.40am Malta's medieval system of flying overseas voters home has led to some frustration; people are struggling to get through, with KM Malta Airlines' hotline overloaded.
Read more (and see the phone number) here.
PN says subsidies will remain
10.35am Sammut tells reporters that the current subsidies will remain in place; its plans to slash bills will come into effect from Jan 1, 2027 if elected into government.
He says the PN is also committed to continuing work to develop an offshore wind farm.
PN pledges an ARMS cleanup
10.25am PN candidate Jonathan Muscat notes that Enemalta has not published its audited accounts since 2022. He also pledges a clean-up at billing entity ARMS.
"We cannot have a person running a public, taxpayer-funded entity with a conflict of interest," he says.
[ARMS is filled with Labour-linked appointees: its chair is a Labour candidate and former MP, its CEO is a former Labour CEO and its CFO is Labour’s treasurer. And there are others].
PN's €60m solar idea to finance its plan
10.15am Sammut says the PN’s proposals will cost a combined €30 million a year to implement. But the PN says it can offset that cost by covering government buildings with solar panels - a €60 million project.
That will allow the country to generate 175GWh (5% of total energy consumption) from solar, slashing the average unit cost of electricity and allowing the PN to lower bills for households, farmers and NGOs.
Details on average bill reductions
10.06am PN candidate and energy spokesperson Mark Anthony Sammut is providing details about the party’s proposals, along with estimated costs of each.
He says that PN proposals will slash bills for families on a single-phase power supply by an average of 21%.
A household with a 40amp three-phase supply will see reductions of 28%. A single person who qualifies for the eco-reduction will see average reductions of 41%.
PN's energy promises
10am The PN is pledging to:
- Remove annual utility meter charges for residential properties
- Broaden 10c47 residential band to first 6,000 units of electricity (from first 2,000)
- Introduce a new eco-reduction band for single people
- Rent-free electricity meters for farmers and NGOs
Alex Borg speaks at PN press conference
9.50am PN leader Alex Borg is speaking about PN energy proposals. Watch it in the video below.
Instructions to priests
9.20am Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma has issued directives to priests, instructing them to steer clear of partisan politics throughout the campaign.
Priests must not attend political events or allow church property to be used for such events, and ensure they do not express political opinions in public, the circular states.
No projects that involve state funding should be inaugurated during the campaign, it adds.
A former president's condemnation
9.10am More fallout from the drama surrounding Omar Rababah's run on the Labour ticket. Former president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca says she's "ashamed" by some of the comments made about him.
"If these people claim to be Catholic, then they don't know what Christianity is," she writes. "If they claim to be socialists, then they don't know what socialism is."
Parties announce press conferences
9am Good morning and welcome to this live blog.
Both major parties have announced press conferences to be held this morning.
The PN will hold a press conference at 9.30am about its energy sector proposals. That will be held at the party's headquarters.
Labour will be holding one at 10am at the MFCC. Robert Abela will lead it and we haven't been told what it will be about.