Updated 1605
The Times of Malta says that Robert Abela has pledged to “work harder” to “win the trust” of the public after a poll showed Labour’s popularity has plummeted to its lowest in years.
Maltatoday reports that a civil court has declared that the former boss of More Supermarkets, Ryan Schembri, had fraudulently bound the company with a €3.5m contract for constitution of debt, at a time when he no longer legally represented the supermarket chain
Newsbook follows the PAC hearing of Keith Schembri. The former Chief of Staff insisted that any links between his Panama company and 17 Black would have happened “after I leave politics,” confirming that he was well aware of who owned 17 Black.
The Malta Independent quotes PN whip Robert Cutajar who lamented that Prime Minister Robert Abela hasn’t given a briefing in parliament following a European Union summit since July.
Updated 1230 – Mid-Day Briefing
Higher debt levels might signal reduction in energy subsidies
Businesses and families could face higher energy prices if Malta does not increase its sources of renewable energy soon and the EU forces the government to end blanket subsidies on consumption next year. Malta’s debt levels have reached unprecedented high, with the country spending more than €400m annually in subsidies to cushion the cost of energy. That is pushing the national deficit beyond the EU-set limit, which could trigger an excessive deficit procedure. Government officials said that if that happens, the country would be forced to cut down on its energy subsidies, possibly restricting them to the vulnerable population, government officials said. A recent report by Fitch also noted with some concern that the lack of a “clear exit strategy” from energy and fuel subsidies created fiscal risks for the government. (The Times of Malta)
PM distances himself from Rosianne Cutajar
PM Robert Abela appeared to distance himself from Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar, suggesting that MPs should shoulder their responsibilities towards the party and the country and not tarnish “all the good done over the past ten years”. When the recent Whatsapp scandal broke out, Abela defended Cutajar, suggesting that she had already paid a ‘political price’ when she was made to resign from the the post of Junior Minister after an ethics investigation detailing her role in a property brokerage for Tumas magnate Yorgen Fenech. However, Abela’s most recent comments that “nobody is greater than the party, or the country,” indicate that Abela is now expecting the former Qormi mayor to make way. (Maltatoday)
974 migrants repatriated last year
A total of 974 immigrants were repatriated throughout 2022, Minister for the Interior Byron Camilleri told Parliament. Reply to a question from Opposition MP Ivan Bartolo, Minister Camilleri also said that between January 1 and March 22 of this year 186 other immigrants were repatriated. He added that these immigrants were repatriated to their country or another country. (TVM)
Morning Briefing
MUMN calls Govt to pay nurses by recouping money ‘stolen’ by hospitals concessionaire
MUMN supremo Paul Pace called on government to shoulder responsibility and retrieve the money “stolen” by the hospitals concessionaire to reinvest it the national health service. The nurses lobby group insisted that nurses and patients are bearing the brunt for government’s incompetence, following the Steward debacle. More than 4,000 nurses are currently on strike across all hospitals. “Government is trying to undermine us by claiming that the package of incentives proposed by the union will cost €120 million government and that it does not have enough money,” Pace said, adding that the Labour administration should get the money back for Steward Health Care and reinvest it in young Maltese nurses and midwives. (Newsbook)
TV aerial transmissions extended for another ten years
Aerial transmissions for television broadcasting will be extended by at least 10 years. Earlier this year, reports suggested that the service would be terminated for good, but public outry pushed government to reconsider. Later, it emerged that 4,000 households still relied on the technology to watch local stations. The availability of free-to-air basic access to television is enshrined in EU legislation. PBS Ltd and GO plc signed an agreement to extend transmission services on Monday, costing the public coffer €1.5 million in the venture, with GO binding itself to continue providing technical infrastructure for this service for the next 10 years. (Times of Malta)
Consumers joining forces against car sale fraud
A significant number of aggrieved customers are considering filing a collective lawsuit against kidnap suspect Christian Borg and his car dealership over what they claim are “fraudulent contracts.” More than 70 customers of No Deposit Cars are seeking legal advice over the validity of the contracts they signed when buying second hand vehicles from Borg’s dealership. No Deposit Cars Malta Ltd is owned by Christian Borg, who was charged last year, alongside five others, with kidnapping and threatening a man, and is reportedly close to PM Robert Abela. (Maltatoday)
