Malta could spend up to €230 million this year to keep electricity and fuel prices stable as energy costs rise sharply across Europe. Finance Minister Clyde Caruana has warned that the cost of maintaining current consumer prices could be €80 million higher than last year, when energy subsidies amounted to €150 million. The government has also set aside a €250 million contingency fund to help cushion the country against further international price shocks linked to the conflict in Iran. Data from the Sicily interconnector shows that electricity prices have increased significantly, at times reaching 33 cents per kWh. The average Maltese household currently pays around 13 cents per kWh. The subsidy remains a key part of the government’s strategy to shield households and businesses from international volatility, although the rising cost is likely to place further pressure on public finances. (Times of Malta)
First-Time Buyers Scheme Set for Wider Eligibility
The government is preparing to widen Malta’s first-time buyers scheme, allowing some people who have already benefited from it to qualify again when purchasing another home. Prime Minister Robert Abela said the changes would address situations not adequately covered by the current rules. One proposal would allow people who bought a property with a partner, later separated and sold the home to claim the remaining portion of the €10,000 grant when purchasing another property. Another measure would allow couples who previously used the scheme to qualify again if they sell their home and move to a larger property after their family grows.Abela said the changes formed part of a broader strategy to support home ownership and strengthen the middle class. He also linked the measures to wider economic growth, arguing that government revenues were needed to continue funding social services and public investment. (Maltatoday)
PN Calls for Action Over Mater Dei Capacity
The Nationalist Party has called on the government to address what it described as a worsening capacity crisis at Mater Dei Hospital, saying the problem is no longer limited to seasonal pressures. The PN said shortages of space were affecting infectious diseases and mental health wards, leaving hospital staff struggling to find solutions on a daily basis. It alleged that some patients requiring isolation were being accommodated alongside other patients, while people needing acute mental health care were being placed with less acute cases. The party argued that the situation could have been avoided had previous government commitments involving St Luke’s Hospital, Karin Grech Hospital and Gozo General Hospital been delivered. (The Malta Independent)
The criticism comes as the government has announced a major expansion at Mater Dei, including additional emergency department capacity and a new acute mental health unit, as pressure on Malta’s public health system remains a major political concern.
