The Prime Minister is unable to feel the pressure from the rise in the cost of living, being someone who was receiving €17,000 a month from public funds, PN spokesperson Peter Agius said Thursday.

Addressing a press conference in response to the recent news reports that Prime Minister Robert Abela's involvement in a contract (prior to him being appointed PM) with the Planning Authority which enabled his law firm to receive €7,300 per month in 2013, had doubled to €17,110 in 2019.

Agius also spoke of Prime Minister Abela's announcement that workers and students will be receiving cheques worth €100, with pensioners and people on social benefits getting up to €200 as part of a cash injection to the economy. Agius said that this was like a "reheated soup from the fridge", as such measures were already on plan in the budget announcement back in November 2021.

Agius added that the motto of the current government is to feast as much as possible on financial gains.

PN candidate Rebekah Cilia said that during her home visits, many people and families told her that they could not financially manage to keep up till the end of the month, and this includes some people who were once financially thriving.

She added that responsible governance requires one to try and alleviate some of this weight that citizens are carrying. Cilia said that if the Labour government cannot offer solutions, one can look to the PN and the proposals it has drafted for a better quality of life. Such proposals regarding the cost of living are the introduction of a living wage, the giving back of stolen funds via water and electricity bills and the setting up a €40 million fund to help with exporting goods fees.

PN candidate Darren Carabott mentioned how the party has already announced many different proposals that would benefit the general public, such as those concerning cancer treatment.

Mentioning the education sector, he said it has also made proposals for better pay and work conditions for teachers, as happy teachers elevate the education sector. He added that there have been four different education ministers in the last four years, with the last one giving a €15,000 illegal contract to her unqualified 'friend'.

Speaking about the tourism sector, he added that currently, 800 families are waiting on updates regarding the Air Malta situation. Carabott elaborated that 400 of them are waiting to be terminated after Air Malta announced that it would terminate employees.

Answering questions by the media, Carabott said that the PN's vision is possible because they listen to the people during home visits. He added that when the PN speaks of being able to offer a better quality of life, it also means that the nation will wake up to a day without the announcement of another scandal.

Speaking about the femicide bill tabled in parliament on Wednesday, Peter Agius said that the PN agrees that there needs to be an intervention that is widely discussed.

Reacting, the Labour Party said the PN was “attacking” a €70 million stimulus package that is being invested in the people. This is what those who adopt policies if the past and a negative attitude do, it said.

“The PN’s problem is that, apart from being negative, it is also not credible.”

The PL said these €70 million are over and above the €700 million paid out in wage supplements and the €100 million issued in vouchers, as well as other initiatives.

“The irony is that the Opposition Leader has described these initiatives as a waste of money. It more ironic when the PN had increased energy bills and only gave people five free lightbulbs.”

 

On the other hand, the government has kept energy prices stable and continued investing in people. The difference in leadership has never been clearer, the PL said.