These are the main stories on today’s front pages.
The Sunday Times leads with a survey showing the Nationalist Party trailing the Labour Party by 22 points in the European Parliament elections. A survey conducted by Misco on behalf of the paper projects the PL netting 59 percent of the votes and the PN 37 percent.
MaltaToday publishes trust ratings for April showing PN Leader Adrian Delia gaining six points to reach 21.5 percent while Prime Minister Joseph Muscat lost five points to drop to 49.6 percent.
MaltaToday says that a police investigation is underway about a cheque issued from a Jersey bank carrying Adrian Delia’s signature, now Opposition Leader, and deposited in a Maltese bank account held by a company of which he was a signatory. Delia denies he ever had accounts in Jersey.
The Independent on Sunday carries an interview with President George Vella who said that it is the right time to make the necessary changes to laws. The President will lead the Constitutional Convention.
The Sunday Times says that an international company has been contracted by Minister Konrad Mizzi to valuate the land in St George’s Bay encompassing three hotels by the Corinthia Group.
The Independent on Sunday says that a system introduced in 2018 to rank the level of risk of domestic abuse cases is being reviewed after question about the effectiveness of the model have been raised.
The Sunday Times says that PN MPs Kristy Debono and Hermann Schiavone have held talks with the owner of once-secret offshore company 17 Black, exploring the possibilities of a sponsorship for a conference.
Illum says that Justice Minister Owen Bonnici does not ‘show enthusiasm’ about a Venice Commission recommendation that persons of trust submit declaration of assets like members of parliament. The Minister says the step would be positive but is not a priority.
Kulħadd says that PN MEP David Casa made a report to the European Commission about visas issued in Algeria. The paper says that Commissioner Avramopoulos told the MEP that Malta has one of the most rigorous systems in this field.
It-Torċa reports that Libyan authorities are ignoring calls for help in rescue operations involving migrant crossings at sea. The paper says that attempts to get through to the designated Libyan office telephone line were unsuccessful.
Il-Mument claims that Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi has his back to a wall on the land transfer agreement with the Corinthia Group. The paper says that a week since it revealed details about a new plan, neither the minister nor the company has reacted.
It-Torċa reports on the latest case of migrants rescued at sea by a ship, which turned to Malta after the Italian government said it would only take in women and children. The paper says that Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini wants to separate families.
Illum says that lawyer Franco Debono lost a case before the Court of Appeals over a 2011 case that found him guilty of contempt of court. Debono denied the outcome and warned that decisions by the Justice Administration Commission cannot be made public.
Illum says there was commotion before the swearing-in ceremony of President George Vella at the Grandmaster’s Palace on Thursday, when Archbishop Charles Scicluna reportedly took exception at the seating plan.
Kulħadd says that no one in the Nationalist Party, ‘from the leader downwards’, has any credibility about good governance. The paper follows a case of related to a Mater Dei contract after suspicions raised by PN MP Claudio Grech.
Il-Mument says that rivalries among Labour activists in Gozo have led the party’s committee in Qala to shun mayor Paul Buttigieg.
