Prime Minister Robert Abela is not prepared nor focused on his electoral campaign; in fact, he is ‘taking notes’ from the PN’s electoral program, said Opposition leader Bernard Grech, addressing a political rally in Paola on Monday.

“As soon as he blew the whistle that the election is coming, Abela has shown that he is not prepared,” Grech said, commenting that once it was revealed that Abela was involved in a controversial property deal with Christian Borg, an alleged kidnapper, the Prime Minister was quick to announce the date of the election.

“Which one do you want? The original, or the copy?” Grech said, accusing Abela of copying the PN’s proposal of incentivizing extracurricular activities for youth.

Grech reiterated the proposals put forth on Monday morning which address the public’s quality of life, saying that the individual is at the centre of the party’s politics. Tax and VAT for businesses is to be reduced to 15% on the first €500,000 made in profit. A PN government will also help the unemployed with a minimum wage pay for 12 months, as they receive better training and skills required for a better job. He said that each year, a PN government will give back 50,000 square meters of public land is included as an outside development zone, and for this to be reversed, there should be a 2/3 consensus in Parliament.

He added that as companies start conforming to the ESG requirements – environment, social obligations, and good governance, they will have done their part for bettering the environment whilst benefiting from the PN’s incentives.

With regards to mental health, the PN is committed to focusing on prevention, as well as cure, said Grech. He said that the PN will introduce a program for children in schools to help them better understand themselves and their feelings.

Grech said that there needs to be better infrastructure for mental health services and pledged that a new mental health hospital would be built in the vicinity of Mater Dei hospital. Grech said that a Nationalist government would close Mount Carmel hospital and find a better use of the building for the benefit of the public.