The Malta University Debating Union held its traditional political leaders’ debate of the general election campaign at Sir Temi Żammit Hall at the University of Malta. Political party leaders had the opportunity to pitch their election campaigns to university students in what is, so far, the first and only debate between political party leaders during this election campaign.
Nationalist Party Leader Alex Borg was clearly the favourite among the crowd and was greeted by wild cheers as he entered the hall. The Nationalist Party leader pledged a 25% increase in stipends and more funding for scholarships and research initiatives. He also said that, with PN in government, Malta would fully tap into European opportunities, especially with Roberta Metsola as President of the European Parliament and with PN being part of the largest European political group, the EPP. Alex Borg also highlighted PN’s proposals for new economic niches, including AI and green-fuel offshore bunkering, saying PN would usher in economic growth and jobs for graduates. Alex Borg also criticised the government for failing to implement a metro project.
ADPD leader Sandra Gauci started by saying that, as the only woman in the room, she urges more women to participate in politics and not to be afraid of being the only woman in the room, as this situation may happen frequently in Malta. During her discourse, she mostly condemned the Prime Minister and his government for running roughshod over the environment and for having a total disregard for citizens when it comes to planning. She urged him to withdraw his proposed planning reforms, which NGOs have described as “the most corrupt planning reform in history”. She described his pledge to issue public funds to pay for damaged buildings caused by private contractors as totally obscene. She also said that public institutions must work for the people and not for private interests, and referred to the slime excesses in St Paul’s Bay and Buġibba originating from Malta’s tuna farms. She protested against the Environmental Resources Authority’s refusal to admit the provenance of the slime.
Both Sandra Gauci and Momentum leader Arnold Cassola condemned the Prime Minister and the Planning Authority for allowing parts of Manoel Island to be turned into private padel courts. Arnold Cassola said that he and his party are not reckless and will not promise a myriad of freebies and subsidies because these are unsustainable. Arnold Cassola said that the education system should teach students research methods and contemporary history, including the history of Malta’s recent politics. He made a reference to the history of Keith Schembri’s mafia in Maltese politics, which received boos from Labour Party supporters inside the hall.
The Prime Minister had little new to say and reiterated Labour’s pledge to increase stipends by 15%. He referred to a new medical-technology company setting up shop in Malta as a sign that Labour was offering high-quality jobs. He also made a strong case for subsidies and bragged that Labour had given more than €1 billion in subsidies and would continue doing so to help alleviate cost-of-living pressures.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s populist rhetoric, Alex Borg produced some rhetoric of his own, saying that he would give money to the people and not for corrupt practices such as the public hospitals fraud.
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