The PL has clearly shown that all it is doing is 'spinning' the PN's proposals in a negative light, PN candidate Ivan J Bartolo has said.

Bartolo, while addressing a PN press conference today, said that the PL's politics landed the country on the FATF grey list, and that the government has not created a single new economic sector.

"This evidently shows the PL's arrogance. It has yet to present its plan for the country, but rather is taking the PN's electoral programme and trying to spin its proposals to confuse people," Bartolo said.

On the other hand, the PN's policies are modern and responsible, as it puts the citizen at the centre of everything, he said.

He said that the environmental, social obligations and good governance (ESG) requirements will incentivize citizens and companies to do better for the country, and that they would be rewarded for it. This comes after Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said that a PN government would create an additional burden on businesses, whilst also asking how the PN plans to calculate the requirements of the ESG framework.

Bartolo said that the ESG frameworks will be different for different businesses, and the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) will be taken into consideration when determining if businesses are conforming with ESG requirements. He said that those who conform with the ESGs will benefit from the chance of having corporate tax rates reduced to 15%. The PN will already reduce corporate tax from 35% to 25%.

Bartolo continued to say that the PL has increased bureaucracy by increasing the burden of excess due diligence on businesses, as well as by placing Malta on the Grey List.

The PN is saying that if one, for example, separates their waste, then this will be part of the environment incentives. Paying taxes on time is an example of good governance and integrating persons with disabilities into society shows social obligations, Bartolo said.

PN candidate Jerome Caruana Cilia reiterated the PN's proposals for pensioners, a few of which include the increase in pensions as well as not increasing any social contributions or taxes. This will ensure that pensions are structured in a sustainable way, he said.