Heavy traffic as SportMalta Marathon kicks off

Mar 6 2022

According to local Facebook groups such as ‘Maltese Roads Traffic Updates’, several areas of the island are building up in traffic due to the Malta Marathon taking place.

The aforementioned Facebook page issued a reminder in regards to the marathon, saying that ‘several barriers are scattered in the middle of the carriage ways of Marsa/Ħamrun bypass, Triq Dicembru 13, Triq Marina (starting from Gwardamangia till Msida).’

The page issued a warning to drive slowly and that several LESA officials are scarred along the route as well to ensure safety and traffic flow.

The SportMalta charity marathon in collaboration with Transport Malta came after the anticipated Malta Marathon was cancelled due to a disagreement over the proposed route. Transport Minister Ian Borg had revealed a remedy to the situation, leading to the unveiling of the SportMalta marathon just days later.

The announcement was met with some backlash, but several other people and athletes also applied to join in on the run nonetheless. Drive safe out there.

#MaltaDaily

Spring hunting referendum will be respected says Bernard Grech

Mar 6 2022

Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech has made a commitment to Malta’s hunter community, saying that the referendum vote in favour of Spring hunting will be respected if they are elected to government.

Despite stating off his speech by praising efforts by environmentalists to raise awareness of certain damaging practices, the PN leader also said that traditions must be respected.

Grech said that this approach to referenda would place Malta’s decision to apply for EU membership in doubt as well, urging the Maltese and Gozitan people to put partisan prejudices behind them and vote PN for the good of the country.

Grech delivered the speech in a rally at St. Peter and St. Paul square in Nadur, Gozo on Saturday evening. ‘Lend me your trust’ he said during the second rally in Gozo of the Opposition leader’s campaign.

During the rally, Grech went on to speak about further pledges made to Gozo, which include the building and introduction of a new channel ferry as well as a 400 bed hospital. He also took jabs at Robert Abela for allegedly running away from journalists, contrasting this with his openness.

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Labour ahead by 27,000 votes but high abstention rate expected

Mar 6 2022

According to the latest electoral campaign survey by MaltaToday, the Labour Party has ended the second week of its race with 53.4% of support, a nine point lead over the Nationalist Party.

The Opposition Party’s backing by voters ranks at 44.4%, whereas third parties are collectively gearing up at 2.2% of vote support.

The numbers are showing a gap of 27,265 votes between the two major political parties. This is already higher than last Sunday’s gap of 22,645 but still not as close as the 2017 election’s 35,000 gap.

The survey’s results are based on the expected share of valid votes which equates to around 85.7% of eligible voters. This is not the turnout figure itself but a basis upon which an election is determined as it focuses on valid votes cast.

The 2017 election had a turnout of 92.1% but the share of valid votes stood at around 90.9%. According to MaltaToday, 2022’s general election could have a higher abstention rate which is impacting the Labour Party more than the Opposition.

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Robert Abela expected to unveil Labour manifesto next Friday 11th

Mar 6 2022

As the annual general meeting gets a set date for next Friday the 11th of March, opening bookings for supporters to attend, the Prime Minister is being expected to release the long-awaited PL 2022 manifest.

The Labour Party still went on to announce several new proposals and make several pledges during rallies and mass meetings, despite the fact that their manifest was not yet either publicly released or completely ready.

The manifest has been a long-time coming, with even the Nationalist Party taking jabs at the fact that, despite calling a snap election, they were not ready with a polished electoral manifesto.

This comes as the Nationalist Party released the manifest in the first week of the campaign, but was later found to contain several technical mistakes. Opposition Leader Bernard Grech went on to address the mistakes, saying that the party was never closed off to admitting these issues and that they have nothing to hide.

Robert Abela, on his part, continuously emphasised that there are lots of proposals he is yet to announce, with a manifest expected to contain 1000 proposals, something supporters have been very keen on.

The general conference of the Labour party is expected to take place in Dar il-Mediterran in Valletta at 19:00 next Friday.

#MaltaDaily