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 a series of electoral debates, hosted by TVM’s Xtra. The debate, held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta, was a chance for the two leaders to outline their visions for Malta’s future. Here are five key talking points that had Maltese viewers talking:

1. Economy and COVID-19 Recovery

Unsurprisingly, the economy and Malta’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic took centre stage. Abela defended his government’s handling of the crisis, pointing to Malta’s successful vaccination drive and the reopening of the economy. Grech, however, criticized the government’s handling of the pandemic, arguing that Malta’s economic recovery has been slower than that of other EU countries.

“We’ve shown that we can protect lives and livelihoods,” Abela asserted, while Grech countered, “The government has been too slow in its response, and Maltese families are paying the price.”

2. Corruption and Governance

Corruption and governance were hot topics, with Grech accusing the government of being too close to big business and failing to tackle corruption effectively. He pointed to the recent Pilatus Bank scandal and the ongoing inquiry into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia as evidence of the government’s failures.

Abela, however, hit back, accusing the Opposition of hypocrisy and reminding viewers of the PN’s own corruption scandals under former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. “The PN had 15 years in government,” Abela said, “and they left a trail of corruption that we’re still cleaning up.”

3. Education and Youth Unemployment

Education and youth unemployment were also high on the agenda. Grech criticized the government’s handling of the education sector, arguing that Malta’s education system is failing its students. He also pointed to high youth unemployment rates, blaming the government’s lack of vision and support for young people.

Abela, however, defended the government’s record on education, pointing to increased investment in schools and the introduction of the JobsPlus scheme to support young job seekers. “We’re investing in our young people’s future,” Abela said, “and we’re seeing results.”

4. Environment and Climate Change

The environment and climate change also featured prominently in the debate. Grech accused the government of failing to take climate change seriously, pointing to Malta’s high carbon emissions and lack of progress on renewable energy.

Abela, however, argued that the government is committed to tackling climate change, pointing to the recently announced Green Malta strategy and the government’s plans to phase out the use of coal by 2030. “We’re taking bold action to protect our environment for future generations,” Abela said.

5. Electoral Reform and Constitutional Change

Finally, the issue of electoral reform and constitutional change was raised. Grech argued that Malta’s first-past-the-post electoral system is unfair and called for the introduction of proportional representation. He also called for a constitutional convention to review Malta’s constitution.

Abela, however, was cautious on the issue of constitutional change, arguing that any changes should be made through a broad national consensus. He also defended the current electoral system, arguing that it has served Malta well in the past.

As the debate drew to a close, both leaders reiterated their commitment to Malta and their vision for the country’s future. With just over a month to go until election day, these debates are sure to be a key factor in shaping voters’ decisions. So, Malta, what did you make of the first debate? And who do you think won the night?