Abela, Borg in favour of euthanasia referendum, trade blows during TV debate
Prime Minister Robert Abela and PN Leader Alex Borg both said that they are in favour of a referendum being called for the people to decide whether or not Malta should legalise voluntary assisted euthanasia.
During a debate between the two party leaders on Thursday evening on television programme Xtra, the Prime Minister defended his party’s electoral pledge to call a referendum on this subject, while Borg said that he too was in favour of calling a referendum on euthanasia.
Abela said that following the government’s launched public consultation on assisted voluntary euthanasia, his Labour Party decided to include the electoral promise to put this question to the general public.
He said that this decision was taken because it is a “sensitive subject” that relates to many personal beliefs.
Abela added that his government recently introduced the concept of a living will just before Parliament’s suspension.
He said that this allows for people to select which treatments they would not want to receive without allowing them to reject palliative care. Abela also mentioned investments to palliative care and to the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre (SAMOC).
“Let them decide and we, in Parliament, will respect the people’s wishes,” Abela said, mentioning that this could mirror how the Labour Party pushed to introduce divorce across the Maltese islands.
After being asked to clarify the PN’s position on this subject, Borg said that he is in favour of a referendum being called on voluntary assisted euthanasia, arguing that politicians “are here to serve the people.”
While giving his answer, Borg got visibly frustrated as the Prime Minister interrupted him – despite it being strictly Borg’s turn to speak.
Abela speaking over the PN leader resulted in Borg stopping and noting that he did not interrupt the Prime Minister at any point during his speaking time. In relation to the comments passed by Abela, Borg said that the Prime Minister “is stuck in 13 years ago.”
For this question, Borg was also asked to clarify the Nationalist Party’s position on IVF.
Borg said that “we (the PN) are pro-life and IVF gives life,” and implied that he, as a youth who wants to have his own family but does not know whether he can have children or not, would be foolish to vote against IVF. He added that IVF was introduced in Malta under past PN governments.
He said that not only is he in favour of IVF, but he also wants to give Maltese couples greater assistance with IVF in Malta by offering them “the best technology possible” to guarantee success rates.
“How can I be against it as a youth who wants to have a family? I have always been clear and consistent on IVF – in favour,” Borg said.
Moments earlier, Abela criticised how Borg, “in 2022, in your first vote,” was one of just three MPs who voted “against 1,000 couples from becoming parents” via IVF.
Back then, Borg, alongside PN MPs Adrian Delia and Ivan Bartolo, voted against amendments to Malta’s IVF law. These amendments allowed doctors, from then on, to perform genetic tests on IVF embryos before they are planted in the womb.
Going into this debate, both leaders entered in good spirits, though with zero interactions between one another till the cameras began rolling and the debate commenced.
Once the debate started, the leaders made sure to throw a jab towards their rival or rivalling party in every answer given.
In his first question to the Prime Minister, presenter Saviour Balzan asked how he can justify the Labour Party putting forward such “attractive pledges” in its manifesto when the reason given behind this early election was the surrounding “international crisis.”
Abela said that Malta has been pushing through crises since the pandemic and, through his government’s “progressive policies,” the country has shown its strength.
He boasted that all the assistances given by government, including the Covid-19 vouchers to kickstart local businesses again, have positioned Malta to where it is today as one of Europe’s most prosperous nations.
Borg rebutted that the Labour Party “only cares about economic figures” and that the reason the PL pledged to introduce a wellbeing index in its manifesto is because its policies have rendered 100,000 people living at risk of poverty.
Borg praised the PN proposal to eliminate succession tax, saying it will remove longstanding “injustices,” while Abela said this measure will leave people worse off.
Abela said that the poverty rate has gone down from 25% under Nationalist rule to 17% today, and that “with us, [people] won’t pay a single cent when they inherit or sell.”
When asked if the PN has deliberately dialled down its usual rhetorics against the PL on corruption, abuse of power, bad governance, and even Daphne Caruana Galizia’s assassination, Borg said that this aspect of the PN’s campaign has simply been overshadowed, rather than being a deliberate strategic decision.
He noted that the PN dedicated one of its 16 manifesto chapters on corruption and governance, and quipped that “others cannot replicate it,” given their track record.
The PN leader reiterated that a PN government will publish all ministerial declaration of assets, including those of Minister’s spouses. He also remarked that Malta is still feeling its grey listing today, even though Malta is no longer on the FATF grey list.
Borg added that while he does not meet “contrabandists,” the Prime Minister does. He also questioned how much more time must pass until all recommendations from the Jean Paul Sofia inquiry and Caruana Galizia inquiry reports are implemented.
Abela once again questioned the credibility of the PN’s proposals, asking if the people could see plans on its proposed mass transport system, Mediterranean offshore fuel hub, and for its pitched space industry.
The Prime Minister defended his government’s response to construction issues in recent years, noting the thousands of annual inspections being done by the OHSA and BCA enforcement, launching “many” stop notices on works.
He also said that residents who have been negatively affected by neighbouring construction will be able to receive financial compensation for damages caused, according to the PL’s proposals.
Abela sent his regards to the 13 families who were forced to evacuate from their homes in Naxxar, especially the ones that haven’t yet been allowed to return to their home following a partial collapse to the ground’s foundations.
Borg said that the PN’s proposals for a new mass transport system and the Mediterranean maritime fuel hub got endorsed by experts – by Perit Konrad Xuereb and by the Malta Maritime Forum (MMF) respectively.
“They endorsed it and they aren’t criminals,” he remarked.
Borg once again attacked the government’s credibility on health proposals, saying that Abela could have used another budget and another full year to implement needed changes, instead of calling an early election.
Regarding needed updates to local plans, Abela said that “what was done in 2006 cannot be repeated” and that “public land will not be developed” once local plans are updated.
He also affirmed that Manoel Island “can never be developed again” and that this will apply to White Rocks as well.
Borg said the PN wants permission for ODZ land to be developed via a two thirds parliamentary majority.
Here, Abela rebutted, during Borg’s speaking time, that this was originally former PN Leader Bernard Grech’s proposal.
Borg also told Abela to acknowledge that, while government signed off the Manoel Island land transfer back to the public, all praise should go to NGOs and new PN candidate Conrad Borg Manché.
Abela repeated the PL’s criticisms against the PN that its costings and figures are not adding up.
He mentioned that while the PN has had discrepancies of some €900 million shared to the public for its mass transport plan, as well as different numbers regarding the Mediterranean offshore fuel hub proposal, the Labour government has made Malta the forecasted largest growing economy in the European Union until 2027.
Abela said that Malta’s economy, according to the European Commission, is projected to grow by 3.7% next year, while European giants like Italy and Germany have “stagnated” and “are struggling to create jobs.”
Photo credits: Daniel Tihn/Maltatoday
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