Prime Minister Robert Abela urged supporters not to be swayed by opinion polls during a Labour Party event in Żabbar on Monday, insisting that elections are decided “by your vote” and not by surveys.

Addressing party faithful, Abela said that “every electoral race starts at 0-0” and called on Labour supporters to convince undecided voters ahead of what he described as “a very important election for the future of our country.”

Speaking at the event, Abela said he was prepared to “do anything” for Malta because of his love for the country, while praising the government’s economic record. He argued that despite warnings that rising international prices would inevitably affect Malta, the country today had “the best dynamic economy in Europe” and was creating jobs and opportunities. He added that he would “never take for granted” what had been built under Labour administrations.

The Prime Minister also turned his attention to the Opposition, criticising the Nationalist Party’s proposals and accusing it of lacking commitments in areas such as IVF and hobbies. Abela contrasted Labour’s proposals with what he described as the Nationalist Party’s record on pensions, recalling that pensions had been frozen under a previous Nationalist administration.

Abela pledged that a future Labour government would guarantee pensioners a minimum increase of €50 per week, saying pensioners would not be treated “the same way you were treated in 2006.” He also criticised Nationalist proposals to grant pensions to foreign workers who paid only one year of contributions.

Abela outlined a series of proposals aimed at young people, workers and families. Among them was a tax measure under which young people entering full-time employment or launching a startup would pay no tax on their first €30,000 of income during their first three years of work. According to Abela, the proposal could save young workers up to €12,300.

He also announced that the government would extend its free gym initiative to include other sports facilities.

On housing, Abela said Labour was proposing a new “My First Home” scheme under which the government would provide an interest-free loan of up to 25% of a property’s value for first-time buyers, retaining that share as collateral until repayment.

Another proposal, “Our Next Home”, would extend existing stamp duty and Urban Conservation Area incentives available to first-time buyers to families with more than one child seeking to purchase a larger home.

Abela further pledged an annual tax-free €1,000 “super bonus” for eligible full-time workers, self-employed people, working pensioners and students.

Closing his speech, the Prime Minister urged voters to support all Labour candidates, describing them as “Team Malta”.

“With us, you know where you are and you know where you are going,” he said. “I believe in you, so believe in me and my friends.”