The Government has not only lost its social and moral compass, but is also caught in one lie after another, the Nationalist Party alleged.

In a statement signed by PN MPs David Agius, Ryan Callus, Mark Anthony Sammut and Eve Borg Bonello, the Nationalist Party said that in 2023, Prime Minister Robert Abela had promised that 100 diesel buses would be replaced with electric buses to reduce air pollution. "This initiative was supposed to be funded by the European Union. However, when the PN exposed that the Government had no plan to implement this change, Robert Abela, in a panic, claimed that these EU funds would instead be used to subsidise private electric cars. But even here, Robert Abela was caught lying."

It said that the Times of Malta exposed that the Labour Government had not even informed the EU about this decision. "The excuse given by Robert Abela, when it was revealed that nothing had been done regarding his promise of 100 non-polluting buses, has completely crumbled. A European Commission spokesperson confirmed that the Labour Government had failed to deliver on its commitments."

"Worse still, by withdrawing from the agreement with the European Commission, which would have provided €34 million in EU funds for new non-polluting buses, the Government is also forfeiting €7 million in EU funds for charging stations for these vehicles and €50 million in private investment to improve air quality."

A report published last year showed that between 2013 and 2017, Malta ranked last among EU countries in the use of Cohesion Funds available to it, the PN said. "The Labour Government wasted 15% of the funds Malta was entitled to from the EU, a loss unmatched by any other country. It is shameful that funds that could have benefited the Maltese and Gozitans were lost due to the incompetence of the Labour Government."

"Robert Abela cannot be trusted because, while he says one thing, he does the opposite. He tried to convince the public that he delivered a budget without taxes, but during the Christmas holidays, he quietly introduced new taxes."

To address the record debt they brought upon the country, Robert Abela and Clyde Caruana introduced numerous new taxes on the financial services sector through legal notices published in the Government Gazette on Christmas Eve, the party said.

"The record debt created by Robert Abela and Clyde Caruana, for which there is little to show, is leading to new taxes and mismanagement of public finances, including EU funds."

The PN said that it is the only solution for the Maltese and Gozitans.

"While the Labour Government is stingy with people's health - as it has done in this case with electric vehicles - but sqaunders thousands on its inner circle, a new Nationalist Government will deliver electrified mass transport. This will not only reduce emissions on our roads but also provide efficient and adequate services."

"Above all, we promise accountability and seriousness in public spending and the use of EU funds, ensuring they serve the common good rather than the interests of a few."