The Labour Party has criticised Opposition Leader Alex Borg for confirming that the Nationalist Party will not publish a Pre-Budget Document ahead of the Budget, saying the decision leaves the Opposition without an alternative vision or proposals for the country.
In a statement issued following comments by Borg in an interview with Malta Daily, the Labour Party said the decision raised questions about whether the Opposition was providing a "credible alternative in the national interest" at a time of international geopolitical challenges.
The PL contrasted the Opposition's position with the government's publication of a Pre-Budget Document by Finance Minister Clyde Caruana. It said the government had also provided reassurance that austerity measures being implemented "just a few miles from our shores" would not be replicated in Malta.
The Labour Party said a government led by Prime Minister Robert Abela would continue providing subsidies and support to families and businesses, backed by what it described as a strong economy that continued to invest in citizens.
According to the PL, Borg has said the Opposition will only set out its position after the Budget is presented. The party described this as leaving a "vacuum", accusing the Opposition of occupying its parliamentary seats without putting forward ideas or proposals.
The statement also referred to the Nationalist Party's previous Pre-Budget Document for the 2024 Budget, which the PL said had been leaked in 2023 and criticised as having "no beef" and containing numerous errors.
The Labour Party also referred to previous PN pre-budget documents, describing them as having taken the form of a PowerPoint presentation or being a "mess" and containing basic mistakes. It said the PN subsequently stopped publishing such documents.
The PL noted that last year Borg and PN finance spokesperson Adrian Delia had cited the fact that they had only been in their respective positions for a few weeks as a reason for not presenting a document. The party argued that, a year later, that explanation was no longer applicable.
The statement further accused the Opposition of failing to contribute constructively during consultations on issues including contractor licensing and appeals reform.
The Labour Party concluded by referring to the general election result of 30 May, saying voters had chosen who should lead the country, manage its finances and economy, and implement the necessary measures, while the Opposition continued to offer no alternative proposals.