Abela hints at early election with promise of 'new prosperity' manifesto

Robert Abela has said Labour's forthcoming manifesto will reflect a promise "new prosperity", in the strongest hint yet of an impending general election.

The prime minister told supporters in Birżebbuġa on Sunday that the manifesto will be "stronger than ever". "A new Labour electoral manifesto is coming and when that day comes, you will understand what it means to work for a better Malta," Abela said.

The remarks came at a Labour Party activity ahead of Freedom Day on 31 March, which this year marks 47 years since British military bases left Malta and 40 years since neutrality was enshrined in the Constitution.

Abela said Malta's military neutrality was not the easy road but the right one, and that it is precisely because of that choice that the government has been able to sustain energy subsidies, cut taxes, and shield families from the economic shocks battering the rest of Europe.

He drew a sharp contrast with neighbouring countries, noting that the Dutch Prime Minister had recently told him that fuel prices in the Netherlands are double those in Malta. He said that in the first two months of this year, Malta recorded a budget surplus of € 250 million.

He also announced that the government returned both Manoel Island and Fort Tignè to the Maltese and Gozitan public this week, describing them as two national treasures that had been kept from families for too long.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ian Borg, speaking before Abela, said Malta's neutrality must be applied intelligently and that the country must avoid dependence, not only in military terms but also in technology, energy, and digital infrastructure.

He pointed to Malta's two-year tenure on the UN Security Council in 2023 and 2024 as evidence of the credibility that neutrality brings, noting that both Russia and Ukraine had called on Malta to chair a key security body because neither side could agree on any other country.

MEP Alex Agius Saliba said Freedom Day is more relevant now than ever before, adding that Labour's principles of non-alignment are fought for daily in the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.

He also defended the government's energy subsidy record, noting that European leaders who once criticised Malta for buying energy from Azerbaijan are now seeking similar arrangements themselves.

The commemoration ceremony for Freedom Day will be held on Monday, 31 March at the Freedom Monument in Birgu.