ADPD-The Green Party has warned against what it described as "seasonal compassion" towards vulnerable people, insisting that solidarity and dignity must be upheld throughout the year and not limited to the festive period. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, party chairperson Sandra Gauci and deputy secretary general Mario Mallia criticised what they said was a growing indifference towards people in need, particularly the homeless.

The speakers argued that charity alone cannot address structural social problems and that compassion at Christmas is meaningless if, during the rest of the year, people experiencing homelessness are criminalised, arrested or taken to court. They stressed that a person's value should never be measured by income or property, but by the inherent dignity of being human, regardless of social class, race or ethnicity.

Gauci and Mallia reiterated the party's long-standing call for a Basic Living Wage, arguing that living decently should be recognised as a human right rather than an act of charity. They also insisted that the minimum wage must be sufficient to cover basic living costs.

According to estimates cited during the press conference, there are currently around 500 homeless people in Malta, a figure the party described as alarming and shameful. The speakers linked this situation to rising housing costs, noting that the National Statistics Office reported a 5.7% increase in the Residential Property Price Index in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Data from union Solidarjetà indicates that average rents for a two-bedroom apartment increased by 28.3% between 2022 and 2024, double the rise in the median wage.

ADPD-The Green Party said these trends should concern the entire country, as they suggest that more people will struggle to meet basic needs. The party argued that a truly inclusive society must rein in an unregulated free market that prioritises economic growth over social wellbeing.

The speakers also highlighted the state's responsibility towards former prisoners seeking dignified employment, people facing illness or relationship breakdowns, and immigrants who often become victims of exploitation. While extending festive greetings, the party thanked organisations and individuals who support disadvantaged communities year-round and reaffirmed its commitment to policies aimed at social justice and inclusion.