The Malta Independent 10 May 2024, Friday
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Robert Abela promises ‘plan with 1,000 ideas for Malta’s future’

Albert Galea Sunday, 27 February 2022, 19:32 Last update: about 3 years ago

Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Robert Abela has promised a plan of 1,000 ideas for Malta's future.

Speaking during a mass rally in Naxxar on Sunday, Abela revealed little in the way of new PL proposals for the 26 March general election, but promised that the PL has a 1,000-proposal long plan for the country's future.

He mentioned some of the PL proposals announced throughout the past week - the first of the electoral campaign - namely a planned €700 million investment across seven years in new green spaces, a proposed reduction in corporate tax to 25%, and €1,000 per year being provided to first time buyers for a decade.

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He said that these are "studied but sustainable" measures, which the government can guarantee will be done.

It was a speech which saw Abela largely focus on the achievements of his government in the past two years and on the PN and its internal troubles.

"Seven days were enough for the difference between the two parties to emerge. The difference between who can offer a future for the Maltese and Gozitans, and who will only take the country backwards," Abela said.

Abela cited the country's unemployment figures, saying that unemployment numbers in January this year were at record lows.  He also spoke about how Malta remains at the top when it comes to LGBTIQ+ rights, and about how electricity and fuel prices have been kept stable, despite price spikes in the rest of Europe.

Much of Abela's political rhetoric was dedicated to speaking about how the Nationalist Party is divided.

"Others had five years to think about the moment the election comes. When it came and when we started releasing our proposals one after the other; they too started one after the other - but with resignations from their MPs. That's what happens to those who divide their party; now don't let them divide the country," he said.

Abela also called on supporters not to take the electoral result for granted.

"Let's remember - it always starts at 0-0," he said, in an aim no doubt to avert voter complacency in the face of survey results which, while varied, all indicate a comfortable electoral victory for the PL in the offing.

Abela said that for him, he is only at the beginning of his journey for the country.

"I cannot promise perfection, but we will make sure that we are deserving of any faith that you give us," he said.

PL Deputy Leader Daniel Micallef also addressed the meeting, with much of his speech focused on criticising the PN.

He said that the PN were unprepared for the election, despite the party claiming otherwise - although he ignored the fact that the party has already released its electoral manifesto.

On the PL's manifesto, Micallef said that it has been pretty much ready since summer.

He too said that newspaper surveys "mean absolutely nothing" and that the discourse that the PL is "unbeatable" bothers him.

 


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