Sunday, January 21
Lawrence Gonzi tells supporters in Zabbar at the Nationalist Party’s first mass meeting that the PN offers peace of mind while Labour wants a change in direction without saying where it wants to go. “We wrote the best pages of our country’s history books. Others are ashamed even of their own flag,” he says. Simon Busuttil tells the crowd: “We are the real Nationalist Party. They [Labour] are a fake copy.”
Joseph Muscat, speaking at a Labour mass meeting in Victoria, makes reference to documents published in a newspaper which implicate former Enemalta director Frank Sammut. He says these “helped explain” institutional resistance to switching to gas-powered energy. He adds: “To those who ask why we need a change in direction, I say: this is why.”
Monday, January 22
Lawrence Gonzi, following a visit to a number of commercial outlets in Merchants Street, Valletta, says the Government had rejected a 2008 suggestion by international consultants Lahmayer that the power station could be fired through an LNG terminal similar to the one being proposed by Labour. Speaking in the evening in Balzan, Dr Gonzi says a vote for the PN is a vote for the “real thing”, while a vote for Labour is a risk not worth taking.
Joseph Muscat, visiting Mickey’s Childcare Centre in Bulebel, promises “heavy investment” to expand after-school care programmes. He also promises public sector employees family-friendly working conditions such as flexitime, tele-working and reduced working hours. He later says during an interview in Santa Venera that a Labour government would extend pending development permits beyond their current five-year expiry date.
Tuesday, January 23
Social Policy and Justice Minister Chris Said tells a press conference that a new Nationalist government will work “tirelessly” to create 25,000 new jobs over the next five years and defend the current 153,000 jobs. Speaking at a party activity in Qrendi, Lawrence Gonzi says the Government has saved 5,000 jobs thanks to its decisions.
Joseph Muscat, speaking in Lija, criticises the Prime Minister for sending a confused message, during the Xarabank debate, about the removal of succession duty. He points out that Tonio Fenech told The Sunday Times that this only referred to a primary residence, while Dr Gonzi had told his party media that succession duty on property transferred by parents to children on inheritance or donation would be completely removed.
Wednesday, January 24
Lawrence Gonzi, in his third campaign visit to Gozo, says in Zebbug that Labour has no proposals for the sister island. Simon Busuttil says in a televised debate that the White Rocks complex project fell through because the proposals submitted by interested parties were not good enough.
A Labour government would conclude a review of the judiciary by the end of the year, Joseph Muscat tells a press conference in Valletta. He says e-mails and text message alerts should be used to inform people about deferred court sittings. Dr Muscat promises, during a press conference in Swieqi, that the police presence in entertainment hotspots would be “drastically” boosted. He pledges harsher sentences for crimes against the elderly.
Thursday, January 24
Lawrence Gonzi launches highlights of the PN’s electoral programme which he calls “ambitious but realistic”. Included in the proposals are a re-definition of tax bands to help those on low incomes, tax incentives for new businesses, €5 million a year on childcare services vouchers for working or studying parents, a gas pipeline with EU funds by 2015, a reduced night electricity tariff, and a tablet computer for all students and teachers up to secondary school level.
Joseph Muscat says Labour would launch a nationwide strategy against illiteracy and pledges to give a tablet computer to all children in fourth year of primary school. He says stipends will not be removed. Speaking later at the Valletta Waterfront the Labour leader promises not to make any major announcements about new projects until having something conclusive in hand.
Friday, January 25
The PN publishes its full electoral programme. A number of proposals not already highlighted in the campaign include a promise to update Malta’s neutrality clause, a 40 per cent quota for women on public boards, a constitutional ban on sexual orientation discrimination, giving 16 year olds the right to vote, a €1,000 pension account for newborns, allowing people to donate part of their income tax to a beneficiary of their choice, allowing people to vote at embassies abroad and civil partnerships for gay couples.
Joseph Muscat pledges to complete the delayed Dock One project in Cospicua, rebuild the Birzebbuga water polo pitch and construct a pedestrian crossing on the Mriehel Bypass.