The first major survey of 2024 on voting intentions for next June’s MEP elections puts Labour solidly in pole position with a seven-point lead over the Nationalist Party. The survey, published by Maltatoday, translates into a 15,422-vote advantage for the PL over the PN on the back of a significantly low turnout of 62.5%. Support for the PL stand at 48%, the PN trails at 41%, while third parties collectively are expected to poll 11%. However, a staggering 37.5% of respondents declared their intention of skipping this electoral appointment.
Change in government is only solution to overcrowding – Bernard Grech
Opposition leader Bernard Grech said that people have come to the see that the government is unwilling to modify the economic framework responsible for the country’s overcrowding. “Consequently, they are recognisng that their only recourse is to bring about a change in the government PN leader”, he quipped. Grech added that the nation’s economic well-being is exclusively tied to the expanding population, and Robert Abela is hesitant to tackle this issue, despite widespread agreement that Malta should revamp its economic model. “If you find yourself overwhelmed by issues such as excessive construction, traffic congestion, failing infrastructure, strained healthcare services, unavailability of essential medicines, and the escalating cost of living, Abela cannot provide the remedy you seek. The longer he remains in office, the larger the population will become, exacerbating the predicament”, he argued. (Times of Malta)
Government to propose language, cultural course for foreigners
After what it described as extensive consultation, the Government is expected to propose discussions that foreigners who come to Malta for a period of time attend a course the Maltese and English language as well as a cultural orientation, a course that already exists but at this stage is still voluntary. Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg, revealed that over 6,000 foreign students have taken the ‘I belong’ course on a voluntary basis. (TVM)
