Five Talking Points from Abela and Borg’s Xtra Debate

Last night, Malta’s political scene was abuzz as Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech faced off in the first of three televised debates ahead of the upcoming general election. The Xtra Debate, held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, saw the two leaders discuss a range of topics, from the economy to COVID-19 response. Here are five key talking points from the debate that had Malta’s voters talking:

Economic Recovery and Job Creation

The economy was a hot topic, with both leaders presenting their visions for Malta’s post-pandemic recovery. Abela, from the Labour Party, highlighted his government’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis and the €1.3 billion EU recovery fund that Malta has secured. Grech, from the Nationalist Party, criticized the government’s handling of the economy, pointing to the high levels of public debt and unemployment.

“We’ve created more jobs in the last five years than the PN did in 15,” Abela retorted, referring to the Nationalist Party’s time in government. Grech, however, argued that the Labour government had failed to diversify the economy, relying too heavily on the construction sector and gaming industry.

COVID-19 Response and Vaccination Drive

The COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s response to it were inevitable topics. Abela defended his government’s handling of the crisis, pointing to Malta’s high vaccination rate and the successful implementation of the VaxCert+ app. Grech, however, criticized the government’s slow response to the pandemic’s onset and the lack of a clear exit strategy from the various lockdowns.

“We’ve vaccinated more people per capita than any other country in the EU,” Abela said. Grech, however, argued that the government had failed to communicate effectively with the public about the pandemic and the vaccination process.

The Environment and Planning Permits

The environment and planning permits were another contentious issue. Grech accused the government of failing to protect Malta’s environment, citing the controversial ODZ developments and the lack of a comprehensive national plan. Abela, however, pointed to the government’s investment in renewable energy and the ban on single-use plastics.

“We’ve invested €150 million in renewable energy,” Abela said. Grech, however, argued that the government’s environmental policies were not backed by strong enforcement and that Malta was falling behind in its environmental targets.

Corruption and the Rule of Law

Corruption and the rule of law were also high on the agenda. Grech accused the government of failing to tackle corruption effectively, pointing to the ongoing investigations into the Electrogas power station deal and the Keith Schembri and Yorgen Fenech cases. Abela, however, defended his government’s record, pointing to the establishment of the independent police commissioner and the new anti-corruption agency.

“We’ve strengthened the rule of law, not weakened it,” Abela said. Grech, however, argued that the government had failed to address the perception of corruption and that Malta still ranked low in international indices measuring corruption.

The Church and LGBTQ+ Rights

In a surprising turn, the debate also touched on LGBTQ+ rights and the role of the Catholic Church in Malta. Grech criticized the government’s handling of the LGBTQ+ community, pointing to the lack of a civil liberties bill and the government’s failure to address homophobia and transphobia in Malta. Abela, however, defended his government’s record, pointing to the introduction of same-sex marriage and the government’s support for Pride Malta.

“We’ve made significant strides in LGBTQ+ rights,” Abela said. Grech, however, argued that the government had failed to address the root causes of homophobia and transphobia and that more needed to be done to protect the LGBTQ+ community.

As the debate drew to a close, both leaders reiterated their visions for Malta’s future. Abela painted a picture of a prosperous, inclusive Malta, while Grech promised a “new dawn” for the country if his party was elected. With two more debates scheduled before the election, voters can expect more heated discussions and policy debates in the coming weeks.