Good morning
Your Sunday morning briefing with a review of the front page stories from Malta’s newspapers follows:
MaltaToday publishes survey results on voting intentions in the May 25 elections and says that the Nationalist Party is trailing the Labour Party by some 15 points. The results also register the first signs of support for ultra-nationalist parties.
It-Torċa also publishes survey results showing the Labour Party winning 55 percent of the votes in the MEP elections, with the Nationalists winning 39 percent. Other parties and candidates are expected to net just under sic percent.
The Sunday Times leads with a story about Marco Gaffarena, involved in the Old Mint street scandal, who is building a block of apartments on a site that had been ordered to be returen to the government by the court.
The Independent on Sunday quotes director of Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants Ahmed Bugre who said that no news has been forthcoming about the case of Lassana Cisse, killed in a drive-by shooting in Ħal Far last month.
MaltaToday reports that the bodies of two men were found in the sea after their boat capsized in Żonqor Point, Marsaskala on Friday. The body of the owner was found on Saturday off Pembroke.
The Independent on Sunday says that the watchdog that was earmarked to oversee the construction industry remains a ‘pie in the sky’ eight months since the government announced plans for it to be set up.
The Sunday Times reports on the financial declaration submitted by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, showing unchanged €75,000 bank deposits since 2014. The paper asked the Prime Minister on the funding of private family holidays during 2018.
The Sunday Times says that the 31-year-old taxi driver who lost his life in Burmarrad on Saturday was found to be driving at around 100 kilometers per hour and was not wearing his seatbelt.
Illum says that the Nationalist Party is bracing itself to a defeat by more than 40,000 votes in the upcoming elections while the Labour Party is risking losing control of local councils in Rabat Malta, Floriana, and Msida.
Kulħadd says that the Nationalist Party has been keep leader Adrian Delia from journalists for a week. In another story the paper says that the Labour Party is fielding 59 candidates for the local council elections in Gozo.
Il-Mument says that Konrad Mizzi has appointed foreign consultants paid from public funds to work on his bid for the Labour Party leadership. The paper says that the team is advising the Minister on his appearance and conduct in public.
Illum says that several local councils are claiming that the government made use of €6 million fund that is generally reserved for councils without them having been informed. The money was used to build car park facilities at the university.
It-Torċa carries an interview with Transport Minister Ian Borg who said alternative transport needs to be incentivized without resorting to taxing use of private cars. In another story the paper quotes Minister Konrad MIzzi who says Malta will be the most accessible country to the Middle East.
Il-Mument says that Nationalist Party Leader Adrian Delia made a ‘positive impact’ in the first debate with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Thursday. The paper says that, meanwhile, Muscat made ‘shocking declarations’ during the same televised discussion.
Kulħadd reports on the 25th championship win by Valletta FC on Saturday evening, after beating Hibernians on penalties in a decider. The game ended one-all in regular time.
Illum speaks to Rabat Malta mayor Charles Azzopardi after it reported that he is being investigated, a week ago. The mayor says that the council was forced to use different VAT numbers to cope with expenses.
CD
