Labour’s Recycled Promises Spark PN Backlash

Standing in the bustling Republic Street, heart of Malta’s capital Valletta, one can’t help but notice the stark contrast between the grand neoclassical buildings and the political posters plastered on their facades. This election season, a familiar tale of recycled promises is unfolding, with the Labour Party accused of dusting off old pledges and presenting them as new.

The Opposition Nationalist Party (PN) has been quick to call out Labour’s alleged lack of innovation, claiming that many of the ruling party’s promises are nothing but warmed-over leftovers from the 2017 campaign. “It’s like they’re serving us yesterday’s leftovers, claiming it’s a new dish,” quipped PN MP Jason Azzopardi, a sentiment echoed by many in the party.

Labour’s 2017 manifesto was a sprawling document, filled with ambitious plans for Malta’s future. Three years on, the PN alleges that many of these promises remain unfulfilled, yet they’re being recycled for the upcoming election. Take, for instance, the promise to build a new hospital in Gozo. Announced with great fanfare in 2017, the project has since been delayed, with no clear timeline for completion. Yet, Labour’s 2020 manifesto repeats the pledge, unchanged.

Another promise that’s been given a fresh coat of paint is the pledge to reduce class sizes. Despite Labour’s 2017 vow to cap class sizes at 25 students, recent data shows that the average class size in Maltese schools has actually increased. Yet, the promise is back in Labour’s 2020 manifesto, with no mention of the setback.

Labour, however, maintains that its promises are not recycled, but rather, evolved. “We’re not promising the same things we did in 2017,” insists Labour MP Owen Bonnici. “We’re promising more, based on what we’ve achieved and what we’ve learned.” He points to the party’s 2020 manifesto, which includes new pledges like the promise to create a national artificial intelligence strategy and to invest in green energy.

Bonnici also defends the party’s record on unfulfilled promises, arguing that many have been delayed, not abandoned. “Building a new hospital in Gozo is a complex project, but it’s not forgotten,” he says. “We’re working on it, and we’ll deliver.”

In the streets of Malta, voters seem divided on the issue. Some, like Valletta resident Maria Grech, are skeptical of Labour’s recycled promises. “I’ve heard these promises before,” she says, rolling her eyes. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Others, however, are more forgiving. “Politics is about evolution,” says Gozitan voter Joseph Portelli. “I’m more interested in what they’re promising now than what they said three years ago.”

As the election approaches, one thing is clear: voters will have plenty to consider, from Labour’s recycled pledges to the PN’s claims of innovation. The question is, will they be swayed by promises old or new?