WATCH | Election is a choice between 'Alex Borg and Robert Abela', Labour leader says

Labour leader Robert Abela said people had a stark choice to make on 30 May between himself and Alex Borg, when addressing a mass meeting in Mqabba.

“Who will lead you the best way possible? Myself, Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg and our team, or Alex Borg and the emptiness around him,” Abela said.

He insisted that he had a “strong team” that was ready to work for the “Malta we all love”.

Abela urged voters who had not yet collected their voting document to go and pick it up. “It is your right, do not let anyone else decide for you,” he said.

Abela then addressed those who may have grievances. “If you feel more discussion is needed, speak to us because we are ready to listen,” he said.

The prime minister listed several of his party’s proposals, culminating with the super bonus as the crowd chanted “Robert is our leader, hallelujah”.

He said the PL has been keeping its promises for 13 whole years, insisting the party could be trusted to deliver on its manifesto.

“With us you know where you stand and more importantly, you know where we are going but to make these pledges a reality you have to vote for them,” he said.

The Labour leader said that today, people only had one manifesto in front of them—the PL manifesto. “Others don’t even know their costings,” he added.

“I need your trust to continue taking the country forward. I need your trust to make your dreams our project,” Abela said to chants of “Viva l-Labour, viva l-Labour”.

Clyde Caruana delivers impassioned speech

Prior to the prime minister, Finance Minister Clyde Caruana delivered an impassioned speech that emphasised social justice, contrasting this with the “austerity of past Nationalist administrations”.

“I recall that day in September 1998 when the Labour government lost the election. It broke our hearts. I saw my grandfather cry for the first time. They were the tears of someone who knew that the defeat meant generations of people denied social justice,” Caruana said.

It was this experience, he said, that people should not forget. “Let us keep those memories in the past and continue to deliver one budget after another where social justice prevails.”

Strong finances, Caruana said, allowed the PL government to increase pensions, cut taxes and distribute wealth.

“The choice in this election is between a party that emptied Malta’s money chest and a party that has filled it repeatedly,” Caruana insisted.

He then acknowledged that money is not everything, adding that the party’s core values meant its mission was to take care of the downtrodden, workers, the emarginated. “We helped couples have children through IVF,” he said.

Caruana urged people to believe in the “party that pulled the country out of mediocrity”.

“On Saturday, 30 May, let us be the voice of the people who do not want to return to the past,” Caruana said, urging people to support the PL.

With the election campaign past its half way mark, this was the party’s third mass meeting.

The meeting coincided with the publication of two surveys on Sunday that both put the PL comfortably in front.

The MaltaToday survey released today shows that the Labour Party is leading the PN by 17,400 votes based on a turnout of 77%.

Nonetheless, the survey also showed that around 59,000 voters remain undecided.

Another survey released on Sunday by Time of Malta gave the PL an even wider advantage of 28,600 votes. And a survey published by statistician Vince Marmara on Saturday gave the PL a lead of 29,000 votes.