Prime Minister Robert Abela and Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech faced off for the first time ever in characteristically rowdy University electoral debate on Thursday – the first of four expected debates between the two main party leaders.
One would have been forgiven for hoping for a University audience not blinkered or dazzled by the prospect of having the country’s major political leaders on a stage before them; however it was not to be.
ADPD leader Carmel Cacopardo, ABBA leader Ivan Grech Mintoff and Partit Popolari leader Paul Salomone were all greeted by polite applause from those present, however the lines were soon drawn when Labour leader Robert Abela emerged to boos and to chants of ‘Viva l-Labour’ – and when Nationalist leader Bernard Grech was likewise greeted with a mix of boos and ‘Bernard, Bernard’ chants.
Both Abela and Grech were at times heckled from the crowd, with some shouting things such as ‘corruption’ and ‘Christian Borg’ at Abela while he spoke, and others reminding Bernard Grech of his past issues with the taxman as he addressed the debate.
The debate was ably moderated by fifth year law student Yasmine Ellul. It was structured in two parts: Ellul first asked a set of eight pre-prepared questions, before moving on to five questions from students which were written by themselves and thrown into a box as they came in.
The opening statements: Courage for the future for Abela, accusations of copying by Grech
The introductory remarks by each of the five leaders set the tone for things to come.
Abela began by speaking of how he is full of courage for the future, and how while a lot has been done by his government, there is still a lot for Malta to look forward to in the future under a government led by his party.
He said that there are three priorities which his party wants to focus on: a better quality of life, a nicer Malta, and a better future.
Grech meanwhile focused on the need for political maturity in the current, challenging times which is reflected in how one takes certain decisions. A lack of maturity is like “letting Europe decide for you on whether you should stop selling passports to Russians”, Grech said – the first of many barbs traded between the pair throughout the two-hour or so debate.
He said that the PL lacks vision, noting that the party is yet to release its manifesto, even going as far as saying that they are copying the PN’s manifesto: “If they put their programme through TurnItIn [the University’s anti-plagiarism system] then it would throw it back as plagiarised!,” Grech said.
His speech was greeted by a melee of chants in favour of both parties, as the more diehard members of the young audience sought to make their voices heard, and a reminder from the moderator that the debate was being held in the country’s highest educational institution and that the audience should behave as such.
In his opening speech, Cacopardo noted that while a war is ongoing in Ukraine, not too far from Malta, both parties were promising “Christmas”, seemingly oblivious on the impact that the conflict will have on the country and its economy.
Salomone, who came across as being particularly measured throughout the debate, meanwhile said that he wasn’t there to try and gain any votes, but was there to share his views, adding that what is important for him is that youths are enthusiastic and are fully prepared to face the challenges which they will face in the future.
Grech Mintoff meanwhile used his opening lines to accuse the debate organisers of “censorship” because those who were unvaccinated were not allowed to attend in the audience. He said that his party, ABBA, wants a country with law and order and where “dignity” of both the individual and the country as a whole is preserved.
The impact of the Ukraine war, public transport, and property
The first question focused on the war in Ukraine and how Malta should respond to that.
Abela replied with information that has come out in recent days, saying that Malta has sheltered 26 Ukrainian refugees and that it is doing a lot to protect the people from the economic impact that the conflict could have on prices in the country.
Grech, meanwhile compared the government’s decisions now with those the PN government had taken in the Libyan crisis, and said that the cost of such a conflict to Malta’s economy shows how much one needs new economic sectors – of which the PN is proposing 10.
Cacopardo chose to focus also on Malta’s energy sovereignty, noting how Malta’s energy sector is reliant on Sicily (the interconnector), China (the ownership of Enemalta), and Azerbaijan (Malta’s LPG supply); Grech Mintoff said that Malta is neutral constitutionally, and Salomone, who became especially emotional when mentioning children affected by the war, said that the country must help those suffering.
Focus was also given to public transport and infrastructure.
Abela referred to proposals to make public transport free, to focus on electric vehicles, and to the party’s proposal for a metro system, before calling the PN’s idea of a trackless tram a “repackaged bendy bus” system.
Grech clapped back by saying that the metro system as proposed by the PL is not feasible, and that the trackless tram system that the PN is proposing can be completed within four years for a fraction of the price.
Cacopardo had the best response from the third party candidates on this matter, particularly as he said that public transport being free is a good, but that “the issue was never the price… it was the efficiency and reliability of the public transport system.”
Grech Mintoff raised eyebrows by saying he would not answer such a question in order to preserve his talking time “for important matters, not busses.” He instead again criticised the Prime Minister – who suggested that Grech Mintoff was being populist in his vaccine positions – for his pandemic policy which he said had destroyed businesses and drove more people to committing suicide.
On the environment, both Abela and Grech reiterated their respective promises. Cacopardo on his part reiterated many of ADPD’s previously known positions, and said that MPs need to be removed from the planning process.
Salomone meanwhile said that both parties had allowed developers to destroy the environment for years, and that a master plan for the country had never been drawn up. Grech Mintoff on his part likewise noted how both parties were dependent on money from the construction industry.
The same pattern followed in terms of how each respective party would deal with Malta’s property prices, with both the PN and PL leaders reiterating its previous promises, while Cacopardo warned that while incentives are good one needs to make them more personalised so that they do not simply result in price increases.
Salomone proposed a government-led housing system which would make sure all have a roof over their heads, while Grech Mintoff chose not to answer altogether, instead directing listeners to the party’s website.
On education, Abela said that he wanted to ensure that everyone has the same opportunities which is why a Labour government would introduce a guarantee for children, while Grech said that education is not just money but also about vision, stating that he wanted to go from an educational system based around packing information to be reproduced in an exam to one based around free discussion, criticism, and analysis.
Grech Mintoff was notable from the smaller parties, claiming that the state has taken control of the education system in Malta and that parents should have the right to decide themselves what their children learn at school.
Abortion: No longer a taboo topic as Abela and Grech call for empathy for women who have an abortion
A question about what parties would do when it comes to sexual health prompted a discussion by each leader on the ever-thorny topic of abortion.
Grech Mintoff, answering the question first, said that ABBA was against abortion and against the Morning After Pill (MAP), which he described as abortive – which is a factually incorrect statement, and said that both the PN and PL want to introduce abortion by stealth.
Replying to the question, Abela said that there is much to be done on sexual health, but that when it comes to abortion it is not in the party’s manifesto. He said though that he has to understand the 350 to 400 people who do have abortions, and that he does not want to “stigmatise them.”
Cacopardo meanwhile said that his party believes that abortion has to be decriminalised, and that women who do have an abortion should not be treated like criminals but should be treated with empathy. He also said that the law concerning what interventions can be made when a woman has medical difficulties related to a pregnancy and what can be done to save her life.
Grech on his part said that the PN is in favour of life from beginning to end, but agreed that empathy is important towards people who are having an abortion as well.
Both Abela and Grech said that their party would make the MAP free from health centres – a proposal which prompted a frenetic reaction from Grech Mintoff, who accused both of them of being populist by saying that they are pro-life while also saying that they would give the MAP out for free.
On the issue of the Gozo tunnel and connectivity to the island, Grech again reiterated that the PN would put the matter of the tunnel to a referendum, while Abela said that there is much more to discuss on connectivity besides the tunnel.
Cacopardo expressed ADPD’s long-held position against the tunnel, while both Grech Mintoff and Salomone expressed themselves against the tunnel as well.
As the debate drew towards the phase of questions from students, it was Grech Mintoff who took centre stage as he engaged with a tit-for-tat with a student who questioned how the ultra-conservative leader could speak about dignity when he had described a legal confrontation he has with the gay community as a “fight with the devil.”
Here, Grech Mintoff said – to a significantly adverse reaction from the audience – that their fight was with the Malta Gay Rights Movement, which he accused of having an agenda to impose upon what should be taught to children, particularly when it comes to gender studies.
“We do not want children aged 5 to, without the permission of the parents, be taught that they can be a boy or a girl. We believe that these things are illegal and against human rights, and we have a right to believe that sexuality is based on biology and nothing else,” Grech Mintoff said to boos from the crowd.
Closing remarks: Major leaders call on voters to vote for Malta's future
The leaders’ closing statements focused on more distinct aspects: Cacopardo said that more accountable leadership is needed in public life, Salomone spoke about how there are a lot of people suffering in silence who need help, citing an example of a man who has to raise two children including one with a disability and is so poor that Enemalta allow him to have electricity even though he cannot afford to pay bills so that he can have three bulbs and a fridge, while Grech Mintoff dedicated his closing speech to telling those present that the best way to solve the problems of today – if they are not happy with the country – was to vote for a party which is not PL or PN.
Bernard Grech on his part said that he had confirmed “why Robert Abela has been escaping from a debate for however long I have been PN leader”, and described him as someone who spouts nothing but negativity and scaremongering. He said that the PN has a vision for the future and that it was in the people’s hands to change the country’s path.
Abela meanwhile said that there wasn’t a single measure which the PL had come out with that the PN had criticised, and noted that the choice which the people are now facing is on whether to choose a party which would take the country back to the past or whether it would choose a party which could take it to the future.
“I’m not going to tell you that you have to vote for the PL. But see what both parties are offering, and compare. Vote for a better environment, vote for more reforms, vote for Malta, and vote for your future,” he concluded to enthusiastic chants from the party faithful present in the hall.
Photos: Giuseppe Attard