“Let us accept that with regards to the environment, no party was perfect”, says Robert Abela

Mar 23 2022

During this evening’s PBS debate between the two party leaders, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech squared off for one final tête-à-tête before the March 26 election date and they definitely didn’t hold back.

Before beginning to address the issue of sustainable development and the environment, Abela categorically denied the allegations that €3 million in traffic & contravention fines vanished, calling it “a bald-faced lie of the many [Grech] chose to say because [he has] nothing to offer.” He also denied the involvement in definite permits related to the Sannat building because it is still subject to appeal and must go through multiple stages before being approved.

“The larger the trust confided in us, the larger our humility.”

Abela stated that “the larger the trust confided in [Labour], the larger [their] humility,” echoing the priority of €700 million in 7 years, which in one of the party’s main pillars going into the election.

The Prime Minister suggested that we must not undervalue the battle against climate change, mentioning Malta’s carbon neutrality goals and a number of other sustainable projects proposed by the Labour Party such as the eventual prohibition of single-use plastics and the electrification of public and private vehicles.

Bernard Grech’s rebuttal started with the PN leader stating that the Labour party had already promised positive environmental practices in Malta, then suffocated it with development and buildings. He then highlighted some of the Nationalist Party’s proposals with regards to sustainable development & environment such returning the White Rocks back to the public and implementing the trackless tram.

Addressing certain contradictions on the trackless tram, Grech stated that the tram will have a dedicated lanes while the already-existing ones will be widened.

What do you make of this?

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‘The Opposition used the pandemic as a political tool’, says Robert Abela

Mar 23 2022

During this evening’s debate broadcasted on Malta’s national television station, Malta’s two major party leaders Robert Abela and Bernard Grech went head to head for one last time before Saturday’s election date.

After giving their opening statements, the leaders were invited to discuss a number of the country’s most pressing issues, with the first point of discussion being public health. Abela stated that after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization can attest to Malta’s performance, calling the country ‘a champion’ in the fact of such crises.

The Prime Minister claimed that the Opposition chose to use the pandemic as a political tool with their calls of a ‘total lockdown’ and ‘how they couldn’t wait for their pandemic to end to head towards an election.’

Going on to his own party, Abela said that a Labour government pledges ‘total reforms’ in the public health sector, with proposals such as building a new outpatients facility and parking, relocation of the medical school from Mater Dei to University and the use of current medical school halls to treat patients. He ensured that Labour has a “tried and tested public health team which offers the best personnel in the health sector.”

Bernard Grech’s rebuttal to such statements was that the only government to create a state of the art hospital in Malta was a Nationalist Party-led government and Malta’s performance during the pandemic came as a result of the EU’s contribution, something which Labour always opposed.

The PN leader went on to state that Labour’s only track record is that they promise something and don’t provide it. He brought up the example of the Paola clinic, which is yet to be finished. “They opened a room to give you the impression that they finished it”, pledging that a PN-led government will provide the consistency and credibility that Labour has failed to deliver.

What do you make of these statements?

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Bernard Grech asks Abela whether ‘he had leadership in mind’ during Muscat consultancy

Mar 23 2022

This evening, Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela and Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech went head to head for one last time ahead of the March 26 general election.

The debate held at the PBS building in Gwardamanġa, was moderated by TVM’s Liam Carter who invited the party leaders to give their respective opening statements before going over some of the election’s major talking points. The Nationalist Party leader explained his enthusiasm in explaining the PN’s vision for common good and a better Malta.

Highlighting that this is his first time debating Robert Abela on Malta’s public broadcasting platform, Grech categorically denied declaring €6,000 ‘whilst working as a lawyer’ and that such statements are lies. Such an amount was declared due to Grech, at that time, choosing to father his children, “as opposed to eating from four, five and 6 mouths as Robert Abela does.”

The PN leader went on to ask Robert Abela whether, whilst working as a legal consultant for then-Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, he took certain decisions to put Muscat in a precarious position to eventually assume leadership of the Labour Party and eventually, the country.

In light of such claims, Abela stated that Grech remains focused on him rather on focusing on the people and improving quality of life.

What do you make of this claim?

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350 PL pledges out of 1000 are just for Gozo says Prime Minister

Mar 23 2022

Prime Minister Robert Abela stated during a political rally that up to 350 of the 1000 proposals in the party’s electoral manifesto are dedicated to Gozo alone.

Speaking in Xewkija, Gozo, on Wednesday, the Labour leader said that in the last few days, he was speaking of the future that the PL is envisaging for Gozo. Gozo will no longer be a ‘periphery’, but a centre of the party’s politics.

Abela said that the party has no fewer than 350 proposals dedicated to Gozo and that this is double the amount put forward by the Nationalist Party. He went on to highlight some proposals, among them the pledge to make Gozo carbon neutral before Malta.

He also said that dumpsites will be turned into green areas and make the already-beautiful island even more beautiful. One of the green areas will be created in Rabat, Gozo, said the Prime Minister.

He went on to urge the supporters to vote on the 26th of March to make these pledges a reality. Gozo could, if the party is given government, surpass Malta from an economical standpoint said Abela.

#MaltaDaily