There was no shortage of cheers, chants, jeers, heckles, or boos in the first debate between party leaders in this general election campaign, on Monday afternoon, at the University of Malta.
On Monday, at the Sir Temi Zammit Hall on University campus, party leaders Sandra Gauci (ADPD), Arnold Cassola (Momentum), Paul Salamone (Aħwa Maltin), Alex Borg (PN), and Prime Minister Robert Abela (PL) met for the first official debate of this general election campaign - three weeks in.
The rowdy audience, which was mostly characterised by University students, made their voices heard during this debate and frequently took over Sir Temi Zammit Hall, particularly whenever it was either Borg's or Abela's turn to speak. Decorum was broken by the audience at many points throughout the near two-and-a-half-hour debate, which filled up the entire lower section of Sir Temi Zammit Hall, with the balconies above left unused.
"Viva Labour" and "Olé Nazzjonalisti" chants, and boos, particularly towards Alex Borg, set the ambience for most of this debate. All third-party leaders received rounds of applause while making their points, though crowd interruptions were still commonplace during Gauci's and Cassola's interventions. Salamone's interventions provided the few moments where proper, prolonged silence - without even intermittent applauses - filled the Hall.
At one point, near the end of the debate, Gauci commented on the rowdy audience. She stated that she hopes that the behaviour observed throughout this debate was a one-off.
"I hope you can better listen to what we have to say. It is fine to support your own party, but let's listen better. It's nice to listen to what others have to say - even to rebut appropriately," she said.
Gozitan lawyer, student, and youth activist Chloë Cauchi moderated this debate and ensured that party leaders abided by their allotted speaking times. This debate was organised jointly between the University of Malta's student council (KSU) and the Malta University Debating Union (MUDU).
What reforms would each party introduce to improve the Maltese education system? Why should youths stay in Malta?
Gauci, a teacher in her own right, said that schools must be smaller, called for MATSEC to fall under the Education Ministry rather than the University of Malta, and appealed for student-based assessments model, in practice, to be amended so that students express less stress due to "monthly tests - which aren't good for their mental health, which we say is important."
To stop so many youths from emigrating abroad, Gauci said that Maltese youths must be given equal opportunities and a better work-life balance. She quipped that the government's proposed €1,000 super bonus for Maltese and Gozitan workers goes against principles of social justice by excluding foreign workers.
Salamone said that curriculums must feature a mix of academic subjects and preparation for "the real world," and called for Maltese youths not to be rejected job opportunities because employers reason that it's cheaper to hire a "more qualified" foreigner. He criticised that Maltese youths are being "forced out of the country" while Malta uses its "slave trade" of imported foreign labour.
Abela said PL wants schools to feature holistic development, so that youths emerge from school as formed characters. He noted that under PL, Maltese can find jobs locally in any area of study, citing vets and maritime jobs as examples, while also mentioning reskilling and upskilling efforts.
Cassola criticised that PL's pledged stamp duty reductions do not apply to everyone as the Prime Minister implied. He added that schools must promote critical and analytical thinking, that debating and research methods should be included in curriculums for younger students, and called for schoolchildren to be taught post-independence Maltese history, e.g., to learn about the 1960s interdiction, "how the country was on the brink of a civil war" afterwards, and about "Keith Schembri's organised mafia in 2017."
Borg listed several PN proposals, such as 25% stipend increases, aligning with Maltese European Parliament President Roberta Metsola to create more opportunities for Maltese youths, and to better prioritise education than Abela's administration.
Environment and quality of life
Prime Minister Abela diminished PN's proposal for a Mediterranean offshore fuel hub at Hurd's Bank as a mere "petrol pump in the middle of the sea." During this debate, Borg said, twice, that this investment will generate €350 million in three years for the country; Abela pointed out that this is €100 million less than what PN has been advertising throughout the campaign so far, calling this another "miscalculation." Abela listed the government's projects for Manoel Island, White Rocks, Fort Tigné, and Fort Campbell for its vision for the environment.
Cassola critiqued that PL governments have failed to reduce emissions in Santa Venera after over a decade. Through loud jeers from the crowd, he also criticised how padel courts "for Planning Authority CEO Johann Buttigieg" are being developed in Manoel Island.
He said that Momentum wants to limit construction time by banning construction early in the mornings and on Sundays, that "public land must never be given for commercial purposes," and that it wants to reduce Malta's dependence on development. To control development, Momentum proposes a two-year moratorium on major projects.
ADPD's Gauci said that, regarding the environment, "the Labour Party is not one to talk." Also mentioning Manoel Island's padel courts, Gauci said that she is tired of the private sector taking over bays. Addressing Abela, she said that "we must take care of what we have - and you haven't taken care of what we have." She called for planning bills 143 and 144 to be scrapped "at all costs" as these will "pave the way for more development" through their reforms.
Answering the "petrol pump" jab, Borg said that new PN candidate Conrad Borg Manché fought against the development of a petrol station in Gżira's sole garden, against the PL government. Through loud boos, Borg criticised environmental projects under Abela's administration, including the gravelled Ta' Qali area, and said that PN wants ships sailing by Malta to bunker here. He stated that on renewables and mass transport, PN "won't just study them, we will implement them" and that the people have waited long enough for the metro's introduction.
Borg also remarked that for construction, "we cannot wait for another tragedy to happen" like the building collapse that took Jean Paul Sofia's life.
Salamone said that Malta has prioritised the construction sector above all, but Aħwa Maltin wants to create an economy where different sectors align, instead of cancelling out each other.
"Construction must remain there, while the other economies we will create will keep the country stable. At the moment, if the construction sector falls, the Maltese economy falters," he said.
Cassola noted that while Borg and Abela say they care for the environment, they both voted in favour of development projects to the detriment of local Natura2000 sites and British era forts. The Momentum leader told both Borg and Abela to "go have champagne" with known developer Joseph Portelli.
How will electoral pledges be financed?
Alex Borg said a PN government would not replicate the €400 million Vitals-Steward controversy and wouldn't keep funding Arup Group to perpetually study how to address Malta's traffic congestion, but start implementing instead.
Continuing these political jabs, the Opposition leader said that while Mater Dei Hospital requires expansion, he disagrees with the decision to do so via a €120 million direct order over the original tender, that was worth €80 million.
PM Abela stated that another PL government will record a budget surplus in 2029, reduce the national debt-to-GDP ratio to 40%, and keep the budget deficit below 3% while retaining all energy subsidies (which he said are costing the country €1 billion). "We have a great track record," he said, commenting that Labour kept the economy going through three wars. Contrarily, he said that Borg not only couldn't provide financial forecasts when requested by journalists recently, but he didn't even understand "what it meant."
He added that contrasting PL's "competent team," others cannot match their expertise or experience.
Salamone noted that it's easy to come out with many proposals, but that would be irresponsible. Among Aħwa Maltin's pledges is to restore all forts into museums and to convert barracks into boutique hotels that embrace their respective time periods. He said Malta can attract history lovers if such barracks are furnished with furniture from their time periods and if staff dress up to match that environment as well. He stated that Malta has ideal conditions to attract Formula 1, Formula 3, and motorcycle races as well. Aħwa Maltin's main call is to embrace land reclamation, labelling it "the solution for my country."
Gauci said that as a third party in Parliament, ADPD wants to serve as watchdog for public funds, and ensure no more "phantom jobs" or that controversies like the fraudulent hospital deal repeat themselves. She called for Malta to tax polluting companies while incentivising environmentally friendly ones; that Malta "cannot keep supporting the construction sector" with its consequences on air quality and peace of mind; and that "we need 15-minute cities, where people can find anything they need, close by."
Cassola said, "we cannot keep squandering money" and called out Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri for phoning constituents up to "offer jobs and buy votes."
"All ministries are calling people and asking them what they need. We don't need anything, we need our self-respect safeguarded," he said.
Momentum is proposing the implementation of a public online ledger, through which, citizens could view every invoice and tender given. He said that this would expose how certain parties, like Bonnici Brothers and Kasco, receive many public contracts.
Closing remarks
Salamone said that he hopes for all leaders to collaborate, without a sense of hatred, for us to have a "safe Malta that offers a future to you youths.
Cassola remarked that Momentum aims to build a future "full of opportunities" for youths and future generations. He also added that Momentum wants to introduce a speculation tax to address the many vacant properties in the Maltese islands.
"The only way to have a fresh breath is to have true change, via Momentum in Parliament," he said.
Gauci pledged that ADPD will act as a third voice in Parliament, if entrusted, to be vocal on issues that the major parties remain silent about. She said that ADPD will be there "to have accountability and fight for your rights."
Borg said that he was a UM student just a few years ago, while playing to the rowdy crowd's reactions, and that now he is a political leader. He quipped that the Labour Party, just a few months ago, launched the Driving Licence Surrender Scheme only to, ironically, come out with a grant "to give you a bigger car" during this campaign. He stated that while "others" had 13 years in power, a Nationalist government will begin implementing change from day one.
PM Abela hammered at Borg to conclude, saying that he hasn't apologised to families of IVF babies for past comments and that the PN pledge for a Marsa Cultural Centre "copies" an existing one in Helsinki, Finland. Amid inaudibly loud cheers, Abela finished by saying that his government turned "every challenge into an opportunity," that he believes in every individual, and that the PL has well-costed plans.
He was cut short by loud cheers and drowned out by "viva l-Labour" chants.
During this debate, both major party leaders stated that they are against the construction of a second mosque and for the Quran to be displayed in classrooms.