Imagine this: it’s mid-December, and instead of Santa’s sleigh, we’re talking politics in Gozo. The Alternative Democratic Party (ADPD) has just poured cold water on the Labour Party’s (PL) pre-election promises, likening them to a ‘Father Christmas-style campaign’. But what’s in these proposals, and why the festive comparison?

The PL, currently in opposition, has been doling out promises for Gozo like presents under a tree. The list is long, ranging from infrastructure projects like the long-awaited tunnel connecting Malta and Gozo to tax incentives for businesses setting up shop in the sister island. But ADPD’s Chris Said isn’t buying it.

“It’s like they’re playing Father Christmas, throwing out promises left and right without a thought for how they’ll be funded,” Said told Hot Malta. The ADPD’s Gozo representative was speaking from his office in Victoria’s Republic Street, a stone’s throw from the PL’s local headquarters.

Said argues that the PL’s proposals lack substance and detail. “They’re not telling us how they’ll pay for these projects, or how they’ll ensure these promises don’t end up like the Gozo-Malta bridge – a pipe dream,” he said, referring to the long-stalled project that’s become a political hot potato.

ADPD’s critique comes as the PL steps up its campaigning ahead of the next general election, due in 2023. The party has been making inroads in Gozo, traditionally a PN stronghold, and these proposals are seen as a bid to consolidate support.

Reached for comment, PL’s Gozo representative Clint Camilleri stuck to the party line. “Our proposals are realistic and achievable,” he said. “We’re not making empty promises. We’re offering a better future for Gozitans.”

Camilleri was speaking from the PL’s Gozo headquarters in Xewkija, where party officials have been busy distributing leaflets outlining their proposals. The PL maintains that its plans are fully costed and that it has a track record of delivering on promises.