Robert Abela says the team brings together experience and new energy, with nearly 40% women and around 25% young candidates.

Prime Minister and Labour Leader Robert Abela presented the Labour Party’s team of candidates for the upcoming General Election, describing it as the strongest and largest team ever put forward by the party.

Labour will be contesting the election with 72 candidates across all districts, a team Abela described as strong, representative and ready to work for a better Malta.

He said the candidates come from every sphere of society, bringing different experiences, technical competence, social commitment, new energy and a shared determination to take the country to the next level.

Nearly 40% of Labour’s candidates are women, with the team also including a strong presence of young people and candidates with experience. Abela described this as a mix of energy, new ideas and knowledge, united by one aim: to make life for Maltese and Gozitan families easier, better and more fulfilling.

The Prime Minister said the candidates also contributed to shaping the Int Malta electoral manifesto, which is set to be approved during the party’s General Conference this evening. He described it as an innovative and ambitious manifesto, not only because of the measures it contains, but because it is built around a Wellbeing Index and 25 clear targets.

Abela said Labour’s proposals have a clear destination: a 25% improvement in the wellbeing of Maltese and Gozitan people. He said this will be measured using internationally recognised methodologies across ten different dimensions.

“We are telling you: hold us accountable,” Abela said, adding that with Labour, people know where the country is heading.

These targets are tied to Malta Vision 2050, including the aim for Malta to enter the top ten countries in the United Nations Human Development Index, for median disposable household income to rise to 135% of the European average, and for Malta to be among the top ten European countries in Eurostat’s life satisfaction index.

To achieve this, Abela said Malta needs a strong and dynamic economy. He said Labour is targeting average real economic growth of 4% per year over the next five years, while aiming for more than two-thirds of economic growth to come from digital sectors, services and high-value manufacturing.

He also said Labour is the only party clearly showing the economic and fiscal impact of what it is promising, with the national debt burden set to continue falling to around 40% of national wealth.

On Gozo, Abela said Labour wants the island to be an economic motor in its own right, with connectivity between Malta and Gozo to increase by more than 25% by the end of the legislature. This would build on measures already announced, including more fast ferry links, a new Gozo Channel fleet, improved port infrastructure, an air taxi service following completion of the airstrip, and on-demand bus services.

The manifesto also sets a number of social targets. Labour wants unemployment to remain close to 3%, including youth unemployment, while keeping Malta among the best countries in the euro area. It also aims to keep the rate of severe material and social deprivation below 4%, placing Malta among the top five European countries in the fight against social exclusion.

Abela also said the number of people dependent on social assistance should fall by a further 10%, while pensioners will benefit from increases that are at least double the cost-of-living adjustment, with a guaranteed improvement of at least €50 per week by the end of the legislature.

On housing, Labour wants the rate of Maltese and Gozitan home ownership to remain above 80%, among the highest in Europe. This is tied to measures such as My First Home, through which Government would finance 25% of a first property interest-free, potentially saving buyers up to €75,000 in interest, together with an additional €1,200 refund on searches and notarial costs.

The Our Next Home proposal would support families who need to move to a larger home when they have a second child, treating them as first-time buyers. Similar support would apply to separated or divorced persons, and elderly persons who wish to downsize, saving up to €15,000 in stamp duty.

For families, Abela referred to the birth bonus rising to €5,000, with €3,000 paid in the seventh month of pregnancy. He also highlighted stronger children’s allowance, a better in-work benefit, improved maternity and paternity leave, a new six months of fully paid parental leave, and 28 additional paid leave days in the child’s second year.

For young people, Labour is proposing the Kickstart programme, better stipends, support for Erasmus, a €5,000 Individual Learning Account, and no tax on the first €30,000 of income in each of the first three years of work or business.

The manifesto also includes targets in education, skills and innovation. Labour wants early school leaving to fall below 8%, SEC results to exceed the European average, every child to take part in sport, arts and cultural activities, the graduate rate to rise to 50%, and STEM graduates to reach the European average.

Abela said the rate of workers receiving training should exceed the European average within five years, while Malta should join the most advanced countries in the European Innovation Scoreboard. He also said Malta should remain among the best European countries for businesses using AI, while continuing to be Europe’s leading country in eGovernment.

On equality, Labour is targeting a halving of the gender employment gap and wants Malta to become one of the top three European countries when it comes to the gender pay gap. The Prime Minister also said the country remains committed to improving its position in European rankings on LGBTIQ rights.

On health, Labour wants Malta to keep the best healthy life expectancy in Europe while reducing obesity rates.

On the environment, Abela said Labour’s targets include renewable energy generation reaching 25% of all energy generated by 2030, carbon emissions falling by around 40% compared to 2005, and every person living no more than ten minutes away from an open green space.

The Prime Minister also referred to economic measures already announced, including a lower tax rate for businesses with turnover up to €1 million per year, four months’ worth of social security contributions returned as a cash grant to self-employed workers, and lower taxes on part-time work.

Abela said the manifesto is a comprehensive plan, but stressed that proposals can only become reality with the people’s trust.

Over the coming two weeks, he said Labour will continue speaking to people about its proposals and the direction it wants to take the country.

The Prime Minister closed by saying he would continue going before the people with humility, asking for their trust to deliver the next chapter of Malta’s progress with a team united around one mission: building a fairer, stronger and better Malta for everyone.