The televised debate between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Nationalist Party dominates the front pages of today’s newspapers in Malta.
Here is how the TV debate broadcast on the National TV station, during the TV programme Xtra, moderated by Saviour Balzan was covered by Malta’s newspapers.
The Times leads with Muscat statement that he preferred Maltese citizens to have skilled jobs and avoid non-skilled ones, leading Delia to accuse him of classicism. The Malta Independent reports on the debate, too, with the two leaders clashing over the immigration issue. Adrian Delia argued that the government is expanding the economy by growing the population, to which Joseph Muscat reported that EU citizens have a right to relocate to Malta. In-Nazzjon says that Opposition Leader Adrian Delia appeared ‘firm, decisive, and prepared’ for the first debate with Prime Minister Muscat. The paper says Delia convincingly showed that the PN had a plan for every issue raised. L-Orizzont, on the other hand, says that while the Prime Minister showed confidence in his positions the Opposition Leader looked uncertain. The paper says that the debate covered electoral proposals, the Gozo-Malta tunnel, and criminal investigations among other themes.
The Times says that the Council of Europe issued a report to mark World Press Freedom Day today. It notes challenges for whistle-blowers to expose wrongdoing, citing the case of Maria Efimova who left Malta fearing for her life.
The Malta Independent follows a discussion between Developers Association president Sandro Chetcuti and Din L-Art Ħelwa president Alex Torpiano. Chetcuti said that developers today should invest more in the quality of the final product while Torpiano suggested a register for workers in the construction sector.
L-Orizzont announces that Larinov Muscat has been elected Secretary of the General Workers Union Youths in an extraordinary general conference of the section. GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja told members they will become the trade-unionists of the future.
In another story, L-Orizzont says that the bill creating the role of Prosecutor General and separating the powers of the Attorney General has been published. Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said this is another step in the reform of the justice system.
