Caruana’s Silence on Labour’s Costs Raises Eyebrows

As the Labour Party’s manifesto billboards dot Malta’s streets from Msida to Żurrieq, one question lingers in the air: how much will all this cost? Party leader Clyde Caruana, however, is keeping his lips sealed on the overall price tag, leaving voters wondering what’s behind the veil of promises.

Caruana: “Not the Right Time”

Hot Malta caught up with Caruana at his campaign office in Birkirkara. When asked about the total cost of Labour’s pledges, he replied, “Now is not the right time to discuss figures. We’re focusing on our vision for Malta.” Pressed further, he added, “We’ll reveal all the details after the election.”

Experts Weigh In

Economist Gordon Cordina, however, believes transparency is key. “Voters deserve to know the financial implications of these promises,” he said. “It’s like buying a house – you need to know the price before you make a decision.”

Meanwhile, former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech, now a political analyst, thinks Caruana’s silence could be strategic. “Maybe they don’t want to spook voters with high numbers. Or maybe they haven’t crunched the numbers yet,” he mused.

Promises vs. Reality

Labour’s manifesto is a wishlist of big-ticket items: free childcare, increased pensions, affordable housing. But can Malta afford it? The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio is already high, and the pandemic has strained public finances.

Caruana’s party is promising to reverse some of the austerity measures introduced by the current administration. “We’ll invest in our people, not cut services,” Caruana said. But where will the money come from?

Some promises, like increasing the minimum wage, have been costed. But others, like Labour’s plan to build 2,000 affordable homes, remain vague. “We’ll find the money,” Caruana said, “but we’re not discussing specifics now.”

Voters, however, may want more concrete information. After all, it’s their taxes that will foot the bill. As one voter, Maria, told Hot Malta, “I want to know what I’m voting for. I want to know the cost.”

With the election just weeks away, the pressure is on Caruana to open up about the financial side of Labour’s promises. Until then, voters will have to make their decisions based on faith – and a few billboards.