Proposals to distribute tablets for free to school children, unveiled yesterday morning by both parties have completely overshadowed every other issue on the agenda of the election campaign. One thing is sure. The PN has managed to set the agenda after three weeks on the receiving end.

Party supporters as well as those who normally distance themselves from political debates, yesterday turned to the social media which went rife with all sorts of interpretations and sarcastic comments. The general feeling was that Christmas will be coming early this year. However others are questioning whether political parties have gone insane, in the context of the urgent need to reduce the national debt level which is now touching the €500 million mark.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat fired the first shots in this battle, by promising a free tablet to all Year 4 pupils across all primary schools including private and independent ones.

As expected this prompted a flurry of reactions, including PN supporters who immediately tried to shoot down this idea, branding it as a gimmick and casting serious doubts over the way it will be financed. However, PN supporters had to eat their words some hours later, when their leader went much further by promising a free tablet for all primary and secondary students as well as their teachers.

The timing of this proposal also raises suspicions that both parties were aware of each other’s plans and decided to gamble by raising the stakes. While we are in no position to verify what was going on behind the scenes, it seems that Labour got to know about the PN’s intention and tried to pre-empt their rival by announcing it first. In turn this might have prompted the PN to review its proposal possibly by extending it to secondary schools.  In the meantime the PN is yet to divulge details of the costings of such an ambitious measure.

Both parties seem to have very short memory. A week ago Standard & Poor’s issued a strong warning on the current level of debt, with the PL quoting figures which say that if one had to include Enemalta as well, the debt level would soar up to 90% of the gross domestic product.

Three weeks down the line, this election campaign is showing that both parties will not think twice to make wild promises. Counting the costs of the proposals made so far, leads to the conclusion that the bill is more likely to reach the €1 billion mark.  The underwater tunnel and the gas pipeline would cost a combined sum of €700 million. Though one might argue that some of the funds may be tapped from the EU, the financial outlay for the government would still be a huge one, if not prohibitive. In the meantime spending on social benefits is likely to increase further, since both parties are committing themselves to leave healthcare totally free, increase children’s allowances, provide free childcare centres as well as sustain the stipends system.

Till now Malta has managed to remain afloat (read leader below), in spite of all economic turmoil. Throwing caution to the wind at this stage would be a very big risk indeed.

Only time tell we are braced for a reality check, in when the dust has settled and the 9 Mach elections is consigned to the history books. But it might be too late then.