Budget 2025 received positive feedback for it focused on bread-and-butter issues and addressed peoples' concerns.

The tax cuts were historical and unprecedented, and they will make a significant impact on peoples' lives and well-being.

Pensions were strengthened, and children's allowances increased; first-time buyers shall continue to be supported; small businesses continue to be helped by the government and subsidies, to keep energy prices low, and shall persist. Young people will get free gym membership. The culture and arts featured heavily, and thanks to the announced measures, in 2025, Malta and Gozo shall witness no less than 40 restoration projects.

Budget 2025 was followed by an excellent speech delivered by Prime Minister Robert Abela, in Parliament, last Tuesday - a day after Bernard Grech's speech.

Robert Abela tore into Grech's arguments explaining the PN's inconsistency on many matters but especially on economic matters.

The Prime Minister explained in good detail the government's plan for a better quality of life for all: from the environment to traffic management; better control of third country nationals imported into Malta for work purposes, to more open spaces; better health services and robust investment in national patrimony, culture and the arts.

Robert Abela oozed confidence and optimism. "Don't let anyone dishearten you - the future is bright," he said. That was in huge contrast to Bernard Grech's doom and gloom speech.

A confused opposition party

This week, we saw the Nationalist Party true colours on many issues, but especially the economy. It reminded us of the sorry state that the PN is on policy and vision.

To make matters worse for the opposition party, the Labour Party, a few hours before Bernard Grech's parliamentary speech, published a leaked pre-budget PN document, which was never published

This document showed the PN's state of confusion on economic matters. But Bernard Grech's speech was even worse. As an MP, I witnessed it firsthand.

The leader of the opposition read from a speech that most probably he did not write and struggled to explain what a PN government would do differently and better from the Labour government.

Truth be told, his speech was a mess. On social media, many laughed it off - saying that the PN was and remains in a state of disarray. But this is no laughing matter. Opposition leaders are Prime Ministers in waiting.

They are expected to demonstrate enough credibility on key issues for people to trust them with their future. Being an opposition leader is a serious matter, but unfortunately, it seems that Bernard Grech is taking it lightly. Perhaps he expects to win by default - but that doesn't happen when you have a government that is delivering and focusing exclusively on peoples' needs and aspirations.

In a democracy, a strong and credible opposition is needed. In Malta, the opposition party is in a mess, and its credibility on many issues, but especially on the economy, is rock bottom. This is not good news for Malta.

Since his early days as PN leader, Bernard Grech was urged to pull up his socks and get himself acquainted on matters of policy. This week, we were reminded that Bernard Grech ignored that advice and looked elsewhere. Malta deserves better than a confused opposition party.

Donald Trump is back

It was a stunning comeback. On Tuesday, he was elected the 47th president of the United States. Donald Trump has been the first US political leader since the late 1800s to lose re-election and later mount a successful run to the White House.

At the age of 78, he is also the oldest president-elect in the history of the US. It was a highly polarized campaign.

For more than 100 days, Trump, and Vice President Kamala Harris, toured states, knocked on doors, addressed rallies, collected hundreds of millions of dollars from donors, did TV interviews and had world famous celebrities endorsing them. Former President Barack Obama campaigned heavily for Harris. Her Republican counterpart had no former US presidents endorsing and campaigning for him.

Harris' campaign focused mostly on reproductive rights and free speech. Trump promised stricter immigration controls and that he would fight inflation.

Harris joined the race mid-stream when President Joe Biden, then the Democratic Party nominee, dropped out after a difficult performance in a debate with Trump.

Media outlets and pollsters predicted a close result. But by the time of writing, Wednesday morning, the indications are that Trump won convincingly.

When the dust settles, the world will have a clearer picture of the priorities of the new Trump administration. The geopolitical situation is extremely volatile. The United Nations reports that in Gaza, its genocide; in Lebanon, hope for peace talks are fading. Russian tanks and missiles continue to wreak havoc in Ukraine. The relations between Israel and Iran are at their worst ever. It remains to be seen how the new US president shall be dealing with these complex situations. The US remains a major global power. Decisions made in the White House have a huge effect on peoples' lives worldwide.

World leaders congratulated him on his victory - as should be. The will of the American voters must be respected.

In his first speech, at his Palm Beach party headquarters, the president-elect said that he would strive to 'heal' the nation and that 'promises made, promises kept'. Time will tell.

I wish the president elected Trump well. I am sure that the Malta-US relations shall continue to prosper.

Well done, Glenn

Malta's EU Commissioner nominee, Glenn Micallef, gave an outstanding presentation at the grilling session in Brussels earlier this week.

Glenn demonstrated deep knowledge of EU affairs to his assigned area, which includes intergenerational solidarity, youth, culture, and sport. He faced tough questioning from MEPs and passed the grilling with flying colours.

Glenn shall be the youngest EU Commissioner of the Ursula Von der Leyen Commission.

The stakes are high, and the challenges are many, but I have no doubt that our Maltese commissioner will do a remarkable job.

I look forward to working with him for more culture in the future of our communities, both on a national and European level! 

MICAS

I am still receiving very positive feedback following the opening of Malta's International Contemporary Art Space.  Through this fantastic EUR 30 million project (from EU funds), Malta can now position itself along with other leading contemporary art spaces in Europe and elsewhere as a destination for arts and culture. 

Joana Vasconcelos, one of the leading European contemporary artists, had words of praise for MICAS on the opening night.  She said that it compares very well with other art spaces in the continent and has a cutting edge in the sense that our MICAS brings together both the old and the new, both the ancient and the contemporary.  Indeed it does because it brings together and marries our ancient fortifications with modern design and structures which were put together in an immaculate manner.

I am very proud of this project.  In the coming days we are going to announce an Open Day to give the opportunity to all Maltese and Gozitans, including tourists who are with us, to visit the place and engulf themselves into the world of art and culture.

We want more culture in the future of our communities and MICAS is undoubtedly a fantastic step forward to achieve this aim!