Delia’s Math Challenge: “Where’s Your Calculator?”

Malta’s Opposition Leader, Bernard Grech, was left scrambling for a calculator during yesterday’s parliamentary session. The culprit? Prime Minister Robert Abela’s refusal to provide clear figures on government spending. “Where’s your calculator, Bernard?” Abela quipped, sparking a flurry of reactions both in Parliament and on social media.

PM’s Refusal to Share Figures Raises Eyebrows

Abela’s government has been under fire for its spending habits, with critics accusing it of lacking transparency. Yesterday’s session was no different. Grech pressed the PM on the cost of various government initiatives, but Abela dodged the questions, insisting that the figures were “complex” and would be made available “in due course”.

“Complex or not, the people of Malta deserve to know how their money is being spent,” Grech retorted. “We’re not asking for nuclear launch codes, we’re asking for simple financial information.”

Transparency: A Hot Button Issue in Malta

Malta’s political scene has been rocked by corruption scandals in recent years, making transparency a hot button issue. The Panama Papers leak in 2016 revealed that several high-profile Maltese politicians, including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, had secret offshore accounts. Muscat resigned in 2020 amid protests over his handling of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who had exposed the scandal.

Galizia’s family has been campaigning for better transparency laws, arguing that Malta’s current regulations are too weak. They’ve been joined by civil society groups and opposition politicians, who have been pushing for stricter rules on money laundering and corruption.

Abela’s Response: “Patience, Please”

Abela, who succeeded Muscat, has promised to clean up Malta’s image. But his critics argue that his government has been too slow to act. When pressed on the cost of government initiatives, Abela has often responded with “patience, please”, a phrase that has become something of a catchphrase for his administration.

However, patience is wearing thin among some Maltese citizens. “We’ve heard ‘patience, please’ for two years now,” said Maria, a 55-year-old retired teacher from Msida. “I want to know where my taxes are going. I want to see some real change.”

Abela’s government has promised to publish a comprehensive report on government spending by the end of the year. But with a general election due in 2023, some are wondering if the government will deliver on its promises before then.

As for Grech’s calculator, it remains elusive. But the Opposition Leader has made it clear that he won’t let the issue drop. “We’ll keep asking, keep pressing, until we get the answers the Maltese people deserve,” he said.