The naked truth

The Labour government does not want us to scrutinise its economic policy. It will deploy all tools at its disposal against those who dare question what lies beneath the surface of their economic success. Why? Because if we remove this mantra, the electorate will see the emperor stark naked, in all his corrupt glory.

I not only have a right but also a duty to speak out and highlight when government policies cause more harm than good. And I will not cease doing so just because the government has turned its guns on me.

During a speech in parliament, I highlighted the issue of overpopulation. My arguments were not emotional; they were rational and based on the government’s own data.

Those who chose to attack me did so without challenging the arguments or data I presented. Had they tried to do so, they would have failed.

Can anyone dispute the fact that our population has increased by a staggering 180,000 over the past few years? No. Can anyone refute my assertion that property prices in Malta are soaring due to this population increase? Of course not.

Can anyone say I was wrong that the government did not invest in the country’s infrastructure to prepare for this unprecedented population growth? Did the government build more roads or invest more heavily in mass transportation systems to handle the increased commutes? It didn’t. As a result, our roads are gridlocked and our public transport system is failing, as are our liquid and solid waste disposal systems, our electricity distribution system, our public health system and so forth.

We are suffering because of these failings.

Our economy is being injected with steroids that, while seemingly giving us a healthy look, are damaging our internal organs

Property prices have surged, as have rental costs. The average property price in Malta is now €414,000, while the average wage is €24,000. As a result, many Maltese are being pushed out of the housing market or are taking on crippling debts.

We are all spending more and more time stuck in traffic. This is not just inconvenient. It is costing the country €700 million annually. In the first 10 months of this year, 7,000 new vehicle licences were issued, with more than half going to foreigners. Where are the impact studies to show that Malta can handle this increase in traffic on our roads?

Need I talk about investment in the health sector? It’s one of the most shameful episodes

in Malta’s post-independence political history. The net result of this population growth and the lack of investment in public health is evident in every waiting room at Mater Dei Hospital and in public health clinics.

While the government boasts about its economic success, public debt is soaring. This government is borrowing now as much as it did during COVID. Don’t worry, says the government, €14 billion in the red is not a problem.

The reality is that a temporary labour force underpins this debt. If, for any reason, that labour force leaves Malta, we’re in serious trouble. This is like a sandcastle built on shaky ground. This is what caused the Celtic Tiger economy to crash in 2008, sinking like the Titanic.

The sad story does not stop there. The government’s recurrent spending is out of control and investment in the country’s infrastructure in 2026 is expected to be lower than in 2025. The EU is warning Malta that it risks remaining in the excessive deficit procedure.

Am I wrong in thinking that this doesn’t resemble an economic miracle but, rather, an economic mess?

People are rightly turning to the Nationalist Party and asking for solutions.

The first important step is to recognise that Labour in government has created a significant problem. Until we acknowledge this problem, we cannot solve it.

The government’s current approach is to make matters worse by importing more labour. There is an English saying that comes to mind: when you are knee-deep in muck, stop digging! The government is choosing to continue digging.

Once we recognise the problem, let us start solving it by establishing Malta’s carrying capacity, taking into account both the residential and visitor population.

Let us identify the bottlenecks in our public infrastructure and determine how they can be resolved. Let us take a step back, think first and act later.

Our economy is being injected with steroids that, while seemingly giving us a healthy look, are damaging our internal organs.

We cannot and should not be afraid or shy away from speaking about these facts because of the emotional side arguments. If we fail to recognise our limitations, we will never overcome them.

The government’s 2050 Vision not only fails to inspire. It ignores the stark realities created by the government; realities that are now eroding the quality of our lives.

We need a bolder vision, one that is based on reality rather than whitewashing. We owe it to ourselves and to our future generations.

Adrian Delia is shadow minister for finance.