Malta Chamber raps Abela and Borg for 'populist' electoral promises

Updated 5.42pm with Momentum statement

Malta’s business lobby has warned Robert Abela and Alex Borg to stop making populist campaign promises that would “harm the business community and Malta’s economy” if implemented.

In an open letter to both the Labour and Nationalist party leaders, Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry president William Spiteri Bailey said the group had “serious concern” about various measures it described as “short-term” and “reckless”.

“As The Malta Chamber, we have always been constructive and solutions-oriented. Our proposals are grounded in research, consultation, and international best practice. We will continue to engage in this spirit. However, we will not hesitate to speak out when proposals are clearly detrimental,” Spiteri Bailey wrote.

“Populism cannot be allowed to dictate economic policy,” he added, noting that while political cycles last just four or five years, the consequences of political decisions would hurt businesses that plan for the long term.

Without citing specific proposals, the lobby group boss said that he was concerned about “short-term, politically-driven measures that ignore economic fundamentals, distort labour markets, or impose additional burdens on enterprise.”

Such measures “risk undermining competitiveness, discouraging investment, and weakening Malta’s economic resilience at a time when global pressures are already intensifying,” he warned.

Both the Labour and Nationalist parties have spent the first week of the 2026 electoral campaign making various promises to voters, ranging from tax cuts to a promise to workers to extend flexible and remote working provisions. 

The Chamber has also previously expressed concern about other promises to workers made by politicians, such as calls for four-day work week trials.

Its concerns with party campaigning are understood to focus on the way in which both major parties are making pledges that are not backed by data or impact assessments. 

Spiteri Bailey said the way in which both parties were campaigning was fundamentally at odds with the direction outlined in the government’s Vision 2050 strategy.

“That vision calls for a long-term, productivity-driven, and value-focused economic model. What we are currently witnessing is a departure from these principles, in favour of proposals that prioritise immediate electoral appeal over national interest,” he noted, adding that “the business community cannot support such an approach.”

“We urge you to ensure that all commitments being made are credible, deliverable, and aligned with the long-term national interest. Productivity and competitiveness must remain at the core of any policy direction if we are to safeguard Malta’s future prosperity,” the Malta Chamber president wrote.

'Short-term populism' - Momentum

In a statement on Saturday afternoon, Momentum welcomed the Malta Chamber's "courageous stance" as  it warned against "short-term populism" in electoral pledges from the main parties.

"We commend the Malta Chamber for holding both PL and PN to account," Momentum said.

"The Chamber’s intervention reflects what many citizens, businesses, and civil society actors are feeling: that political discourse has increasingly shifted towards short-term populism rather than serious, evidence-based policymaking."

It added that such proposals risk undermining Malta's economic stability and long-term prosperity.