Major surveys point to diverging gaps between major parties
Two electoral surveys published over the weekend offered constrasting views of the size of the gap in favour of the Labour Party with two weeks to go until the general election. A MaltaToday survey found that Labour currently enjoys a lead of 17,386 votes over the PN, with Prime Minister Robert Abela also holding a seven-point advantage over PN leader Alex Borg in the trust rankings. The survey, based on 1,408 respondents, estimated Labour’s lead at 6.3 percentage points after undecided voters were statistically allocated. Meanwhile, a separate poll commissioned by the Times of Malta and carried out by Esprimi gave Labour an even larger advantage, projecting a gap of 28,600 votes. That survey placed Labour on 52.9% and the PN on 44%. However, analysts note that uncertainty remains high, particularly given the MaltaToday survey’s finding that 16.6% of respondents remain undecided , equivalent to around 59,000 voters. The figures also suggest that smaller parties continue to struggle to gain significant traction, with the Esprimi survey projecting them collectively at just over 3% support. (Times of Malta / Maltatoday)
PN Promises New Schools and Education Overhaul
Nationalist Party leader Alex Borg has unveiled a broad package of education reforms, promising curriculum modernisation, stronger support for neurodivergent students and the opening of a new school every year under a future PN government. Speaking during a political activity in Żebbuġ focused on education, Borg said the sector remained the “foundation of society” and pledged to align Malta’s education system more closely with the country’s evolving economic needs. Among the key proposals announced were the creation of new trade centres, increased investment in vocational education and the introduction of targeted courses linked to emerging industries such as artificial intelligence, data science, maritime sectors and the “new space” economy. Borg said education should prepare students for future careers while also ensuring inclusion and equal opportunity. He pledged stronger support mechanisms for neurodivergent students and argued that schools must better adapt to different learning needs. (The Malta Independent)
Lydia Abela Announces Disability and Vulnerability Protection Measures
The wife of the Prime Minister, Dr Lydia Abela has announced a series of proposals aimed at strengthening rights and support for persons with disabilities and vulnerable individuals if Labour is re-elected to government. Speaking during the Labour Party’s “Brunch and Discuss” activity on Sunday, Abela said two new laws would be introduced in Parliament , one focused on personal autonomy and another aimed at protecting vulnerable adults from abuse and harm. She described Labour’s disability-related proposals as a “robust package” designed to improve quality of life and strengthen social inclusion. Among the measures announced was the creation of a specialised Special Olympics centre where athletes could access medical check-ups and services under one roof. Public service departments would also introduce autism-friendly hours, while a new sensory room would be built within the emergency department at Mater Dei Hospital. Abela also pledged that the state would fully cover therapy costs for children up to the age of 18, while parents would receive five days of carer’s leave. In addition, the carer’s grant would double to match the national minimum wage. (TVM News)
