Prime Minister Robert Abela said that fuel in Malta would today be up to 45% more expensive without the government’s subsidies keeping prices stable – something which he said would be a “catastrophe.”
Speaking at a Labour Party political activity, Abela said that without the government’s subsidies, the price of petrol would be 38 cents higher than it is today and the price of diesel would be 45 cents higher as well.
Abela said that on this basis, for every €100 that people were to spend on fuel, without subsidies that would increase to €138 for petrol and €145 for diesel – increases of 38% and 45% respectively.
“It would be a catastrophe for industry and for people alike,” he said.
Electricity prices meanwhile have increased by up to 70% in other European countries.
However, Abela said, Malta’s strong economy allows the government to commit to continue offering full stability – and that includes in fuel and energy prices.
Abela also referred to efforts to repatriate Maltese citizens and residents back to the country from the Gulf amidst the war which has broken out in the region.
187 Maltese nationals were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates over the weekend, while another 26 citizens and residents left Qatar on Sunday as well.
The Prime Minister also placed emphasis on Malta’s policy of “active neutrality” saying that that it shows how important it is that, for instance, Malta has no foreign military bases in the country. “EU countries and other countries today are facing problems because of military bases on their soil,” he said.
“We need to keep emphasis on our policy of neutrality because it is more relevant today than ever before, and we want to give full peace of mind to everyone that we will protect the Maltese people from any economic shock and international challenge that the world is facing,” Abela said.
‘We need to celebrate Women’s Day every day’ – Lydia Abela
Abela was speaking during an event organised by the Labour Party to mark Women’s Day; an event which saw the participation of his wife Lydia Abela together with lawyer Pearl Agius, engineer Abigail Cutajar, criminology professor Janice Formosa Pace, and the President of Business & Professional Women Mariella Camilleri.
Lydia Abela described Malta as a “role model” when it comes to how women are treated, and said that the country has made huge advancements in recent years.
“When we give women the opportunity, space, and chance, they will give us a lot back. It’s good to celebrate Women’s Day not just today but throughout the year,” she said.
During the discussion, she also said that while attitudes are changing, it is still women who end up taking on a lot of the burdens of the household and of having a family, adding that it is mostly women among government workers who apply to work reduced hours.
She said that there should be no shame in a man working reduced hours, and that she would like to see more men pushing pushchairs and changing nappies.
During the discussion, the Prime Minister said that the government has done a lot when it comes to work-life balance – citing several special leave assistances as examples – but said that the next discussion is on strengthening maternity leave, paternity leave, and remote working.
He said that there are industries, particularly in services which adopted remote working during the Covid-19 pandemic but are now regressing to pre-pandemic work patterns. “We need to ask why… I am too afraid that it is related to productivity,” he said.
He continued that the concept of remote working must be pushed because it brings a lot of benefits, but productivity must not only be retained, but indeed increased. “If we do not remain competitive, we cannot have these discussions,” he said.
Abela also revealed that talks between the government and the consortium which holds the title for Manoel Island are set to conclude in the coming weeks, having been ongoing for several months.