‘Just flinging money at people isn’t going to impress me’: students weigh in on election proposals
With Malta’s general election set for 30 May, political parties have been racing to announce manifesto proposals at a breakneck pace – from hospital renovations and stipend increases to sweeping tax reforms and first-time buyer schemes. But how much are young voters paying attention? The Malta Independent took to three of the island’s main educational campuses to find out, speaking to students that revealed a mixed picture; pockets of genuine political engagement, a widespread reluctance to speak publicly about partisan preferences, and at one institution, an almost complete vacuum of electoral awareness.
The newsroom went to MCAST Paola, Junior College, and University of Malta. At all three locations, finding students willing to share their views proved more difficult than anticipated. Many declined to comment, citing discomfort with expressing political opinions publicly- a notable finding in itself, given that Malta’s electoral culture has traditionally been one of high engagement. The country has historically recorded some of the highest voter turnout rates in the European Union, consistently above 90% in general elections, except for the last election, when participation dropped to 85%.
The most striking response came at Junior College, where journalists were unable to find a single student willing to participate. More concerning still was the reason: a significant number of students approached were not merely reluctant to comment but appeared to be unaware that an election had been called at all. One student, when asked about electoral proposals, replied that they did not even know an election was happening. For a country now in the final fortnight of a general election campaign- with billboards, mass rallies, and media saturation dominating the national conversation – the degree of disengagement among some of Malta’s youngest political voters is what shocked the journalists.
Malta lowered its voting age to 16 in 2018, meaning that Junior College students are eligible to cast a ballot. The fact that some appeared unaware of the election raises questions about civic education and the extent to which the campaign is reaching the youngest segment of the electorate.
At MCAST and the University of Malta, students were more forthcoming, though many still preferred not to be quoted. Those who did speak reflected a range of priorities – and a healthy dose of scepticism.
One student expressed a broader mistrust of electoral promises as a concept, regardless of party. “I don’t really take heed of the proposals” he said. “It’s the government and what they have in terms of principles. Just flinging money at people isn’t going to impress me.” This comment captured a sentiment heard from several students who questioned whether the current campaign proposals represent genuine governance intent or short-term electoral calculation.
That scepticism is not without foundation. Both the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party have announced numerous proposals since Prime Minister Robert Abela called the snap election on 27 April. Labour launched its campaign under the slogan ‘Int Malta’ (‘You Are Malta’), with pledges targeting young people, first-time buyers, seniors and workers. The Nationalist Party, led by Alex Borg since September, has positioned itself around structural economic reform, including tax restructuring, healthcare infrastructure, and homeownership schemes.
Another student highlighted three specific proposals that had resonated with him: new hospital construction, a 25% increase in student stipends, and reductions in income tax. “Those were like the main three things that actually hit me,” he said. He also cited the stipend increase and schemes for first-time property buyers as particularly relevant to his own circumstances. “I’m one of those young people trying to buy their first property,” he added.
The PN has indeed proposed a 25% raise in student stipends if elected to government. On housing, PN leader Alex Borg has pledged to widen the existing deposit assistance scheme so that it covers properties worth up to €450,000, up from the current ceiling of €225,000, potentially providing assistance of up to €45,000 towards a deposit. A separate pledge would see a PN government subsidise half of the mortgage interest paid by first-time buyers during the first ten years of their loan.
On healthcare, the PN has promised to build three new hospitals and to replace the ageing Mount Carmel psychiatric facility with a modern treatment centre. One student who flagged this as a key proposal also gave voice to the question on many minds: “Where would the money for that come from?” he asked. The funding question has been a recurring flashpoint in the campaign, with Labour Finance Minister Clyde Caruana publicly challenging the credibility of several PN financial projections.
The proposal that generated the most consistent enthusiasm across students who did comment was the PN’s pledge to abolish inheritance tax on property and family businesses. “I really like the one on the inheritance – that you remove the inheritance tax,” one student said. “I think the inheritance tax is just stupid in the first place, because your parents would have paid the tax already for that.” The PN announced the measure as an “unprecedented” reform, while Labour has countered that the PN’s proposal could leave heirs paying more in the long run, with Prime Minister Abela presenting detailed counter-calculations to make his case. Labour has separately proposed reducing inheritance tax to 1.5 per cent rather than abolishing it outright.
One student also appreciated a pair of energy-related measures – specifically proposals to remove electricity meter charges for farmers and for voluntary organisations. “That will help them financially,” he said, framing it less as a personal benefit and more as recognition of the contributions those sectors make to Maltese society.
The overall tone of the vox pop – scepticism tempered by selective engagement – may reflect a broader mood in the electorate. Opinion polls conducted ahead of the election have shown Labour maintaining a lead over the PN. Labour has governed Malta since 2013 and won its third consecutive election in March 2022 with 55 per cent of the popular vote.
As the campaign enters its final two weeks, the challenge for both parties may be less about the volume of proposals and more about convincing a sceptical young electorate – or in some cases, making them aware there is an election to vote in at all – that their pledges represent something more than, as one student put it, “bribery.”
“I trust action. I don’t trust a proposal,” another student said bluntly. “Many people can propose at the end of the day.”
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