Sunday, January 27

Lawrence Gonzi says that electoral pledges not implemented in the last legislature, such as the cohabitation and whistleblower laws, will be fulfilled in the next one. Interviewed on Radio 101 together with Simon Busuttil, the Prime Minister says such proposals were omitted from the PN electoral programme because they were not new initiatives.

Joseph Muscat accuses the PN of lacking the will to tackle corruption. He tells party supporters at the Valletta Waterfront that laws on corruption, party financing and whistleblowers were not mentioned in the PN’s electoral programme.

AD chairman Michael Briguglio accuses the two main parties of acting irresponsibly, promising everything to everyone and acting like Father Christmas.

Monday, January 28

The PN’s electoral proposals will cost €1.1 billion over the next legislature and a new Nationalist government will still aim to end it with a surplus of €108 million, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech tells a press conference. The PN’s projections are based on economic growth projections of between 2.3 and 3.6 per cent. Mr Fenech says the PN was also planning expenditure cuts of two per cent, stronger tax evasion measures and a debt level of 60 per cent by 2017.

Visiting Mosta, Lawrence Gonzi says the PN will create a special fund to provide capital for new businesses. Later at Mtarfa he promises an independent watchdog for public finances.

Joseph Muscat says a Labour government will extend the 15 per cent tax on part-time work to cover the first €10,000. This would not apply to those whose part-time work is their primary job. He also promises a 15 per cent tax on the first €12,000 income derived from part-time business activity, a tax credit of €8,000 or 10 per cent of investment for start-up companies and a €2,000 tax credit for women over 35 entering the labour market for the first time.

Tuesday, January 29

Speaking at Villa Arrigo in San Pawl tat-Tarġa, Lawrence Gonzi says the PN will revise various pension rules to make sure nobody is penalised unfairly. Later in Kirkop he does not rule out an independent inquiry into the oil procurement affair. Visiting Għarb, Dr Gonzi describes stipends as “one of the secrets to Malta’s success”.

Joseph Muscat says in Luqa that the PN’s electoral promises would mean an increase either in the country’s debt or taxes.

AD chairman Michael Briguglio reveals that he had received a threatening letter which “warned him” against speaking out against the Armier boathouses.

Wednesday, January 30

The PN announces its 70 election candidates; a third are first time contenders and a fifth are women. Lawrence Gonzi tells the press: “Labour is risking and tampering with your future. It is experimenting. The PN can offer a secure future.”

Mario de Marco says at a press conference that Labour’s proposal to remove environmental protection from the planning authority’s remit reduced environmental protection to one vote out of 15 on Mepa’s board.

Joseph Muscat tells environmental NGOs and developers that Labour will not change outside development zones. Overdevelopment, he says, will be tackled through the restructuring of structural and local plans. Dr Muscat says discussions with stakeholders will be held over Mepa’s tariffs. He later tells a press conference in Floriana that councils will be given a vote on the planning board when large projects in their locality are being discussed and that Mepa’s environment arm will be merged with the resources authority.

Thursday, January 31

Lawrence Gonzi tells a press conference at party HQ that the PN’s voucher proposal is superior to Labour’s proposal because it includes private childcare services. Addressing supporters later in Kalkara Dr Gonzi questions Labour’s pledge to separate the environment from the planning process. “Are we going to have another Lorry Sant?” he asks.

Joseph Muscat announces that teachers would be able to take a year’s fully paid sabbatical to attend courses intended to advance their career. He also pledges a system which enabled teachers to switch from State, private and Church schools with losing salary progression. Dr Muscat later promises a comprehensive plan to improve public transport.

AD chairman Michael Briguglio says men should be entitled to two weeks’ parental leave.

Friday, February 1

Lawrence Gonzi tells supporters at Marsalforn that the PN is Gozo’s natural party. Later in San Ġwann he says the PN’s electoral manifesto will be delivered to every home.

Simon Busuttil tells a press conference that a new PN government would appoint a specific economic and finance parliamentary committee to scrutinise public funds.

Joseph Muscat visits Mater Dei and pledges free private health treatment if patients are made to wait longer than a stipulated maximum period for operations. He also promises a medicines home delivery service for those over 70, the immobile and the severely disabled.

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