News Update
Political Rallies – Robert Abela has urged Labour supporters to get out and vote next Saturday. Abela was addressing the Labour Party’s rally held at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali. Abela added that the choice on Saturday is about making a choice between the future and the past. The Times highlights that the importance of mobilising the vote featured repeatedly during Abela’s speech. Despite all surveys showing Labour is on course for a comfortable victory, Abela cautioned the crowd not to “entrust your future to a survey”. Maltatoday highlighted the fact Abela focused most of his speech on unity in comparison to the PN’s “divide”.
PN Leader Bernard Grech said that the Nationalist party has long proposed measures to address the cost of living, but the government has held off from implementing any until now. Had the PN been in government for just a few months, he insists, people would already have been noticeably better off. Newsbook refers to Grech’s call for everyone to collect the vote and vote on Saturday. Grech also warned about the electoral process, following stories that prisoners who had no right to vote, voted on Saturday’s early election. Grech also challenged Abela to publish the report that was presented to the tax authorities on the value of the property. Grech expressed his conviction that on Saturday would see Malta embark on a new route to a destination it deserves.
Covid-19
203 new COVID-19 cases have been recorded in the past 24 hours, while a 96-year-old woman died while positive with the virus. The country’s death toll while positive with Covid-19 is 622. According to the latest information issued by Malta’s Health Ministry, 90 patients recovered. The number of active cases is 2,356. There are 55 virus patients in hospital.
85.15% of early voters cast their choice
A total of 8,224 electors cast their vote in Malta’s early voting session for the 2022 general elections. The number represented a turnout of 85.15% for the 9,658 registered voters. Early voting for the 2022 general election took place on 19 March in Malta for electors who are abroad or hospitalised on 26 March. (MaltaToday)
Tanker remains adrift
The chemical tanker adrift off the Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq coastline remained adrift on Sunday as prevailing wind conditions marred any hopes of moving it. Speaking to Times of Malta on Sunday morning, a Transport Ministry spokesperson said the situation remains “the same” and discussions about when and how it will be towed are ongoing. (Times of Malta)
Election Polling
As the country gears itself to vote on Saturday, Malta’s newspapers publish a number of polls which indicate that the Labour Party will be heading for another mandate. The unclear aspect is the gap between the two parties.
MaltaToday‘s survey shows that the PL registers 53.7% support, an increase of 0.5 points over last Sunday, and the PN 44.3%, a decline of 0.4 points. Third parties collectively continue to hover on the 2% mark. The extrapolated result puts the gap between the two major parties at 29,003 votes, up from 25,996 last Sunday.
Times of Malta poll show that the Labour Party would win by a majority of 55.1% if an election were held tomorrow, with the Nationalist Party obtaining 43.5%, a survey commissioned by Times of Malta has found. This could translate into a gap of 37,000 votes between the two parties, however, the final figure will depend on several factors, not least of which is voter turnout. Some 20% of the survey’s respondents did not say who they would be voting for, down from 21% in the last survey carried out in February and 27% from the survey carried out before that.
Torċa’s poll, carried by Dr Vincent Marmara show that the Labour Party has a 12.6% gap. This would translate in a gap of around 38,000 votes, with a turnout of 88%. The turnout might be an indicative factor in this election as all polls have indicated an increase in possible absenteeism.
The gap in the 2017 election stood at 35,000.
Man dies after inhaling heater gas
A 35-year old man tragically lost his life after inhaling gas leaking from a heater. Police said that the man, who hails from Guinea-Bissau, was found unconscious at his residence by the medical team called to assist, and pronounced dead at the site of the incident. Police and Civil Protection Department members were called to the residence on Triq il-Poeżija at 11.30am. Magistrate Josette Demicoli is leading a magisterial inquiry into the death, while a police investigation is underway. (Times of Malta)
Cassola questions Abela-Maksar links
Independent candidate Arnold Cassola put pressure on Prime Minister Robert Abela over an alleged power boat hull deal with the ‘tal-Maksar’ brothers.
In a press conference on Saturday, Cassola revealed how he was left without a reply after sending multiple emails to the Prime Minister, questioning the veracity of the claim. The deal allegedly happened some time in between 2008 and 2012. “I have recently been approached with information regarding the relationship between Robert Abela and the Agius brothers. In order to verify the veracity of such information, I wrote to Robert Abela on 13 February.” Cassola said. (Maltatoday)
Price of wheat increases 60%
Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine had a major impact on the international price of wheat, which have increased by some 60% since January. Although Malta has secured a supply of wheat for the coming months, this has come at a massive additional cost for importers. However, the stratospheric increases will not be passed on to consumers as government is in talks with importers to subsidise the price of flour. Newsbook.com.mt reports that importers of wheat made it clear that they had no choice but to increase the price of flour and other by-products in talks with government, which is set to absorb the increase and ensure that the price of bread and other staple foods does not increase.
Covid-19 Update
Covid-19 cases increased on Saturday, with 286 new infections and 115 recoveries. There are currently 2,244 active cases.
