The Nationalist Party (PN) has issued a strong reaction to the 2026 Budget, accusing the Labour Government of “handing out money while debt explodes and the problems remain.”
According to the PN, the national debt — which stood at €11 billion — is projected to rise to a record €14 billion by 2028, effectively “tripling under Prime Minister Robert Abela.”
“Since Robert Abela was appointed Prime Minister, he has already created as much debt as all the previous Prime Ministers combined,” the PN said.
‘A budget that forgets people’s problems’
The Opposition said the Budget offers “handouts without solutions,” warning that Maltese and Gozitan taxpayers will soon be paying almost €1 million a day in interest on national debt.
“You will be given €4.66 and will still pay tax on it, while Ministers in this Budget will be taking an increase of €1,700 per year,” the PN added, referring to the Cost of Living Adjustment and ministerial pay rises.
The statement criticises the Government for cutting capital expenditure by €100 million, claiming that “infrastructure continues to collapse due to unplanned population growth.”
Traffic, hospitals, and housing still unresolved
The Opposition said traffic, housing, and hospital issues remain unaddressed in the 2026 Budget.
The PN said that the Budget shows “the Labour Government has given up on solving the problems it created itself.”
“Tomorrow you will still remain stuck in traffic, you will still wait long hours at hospital, and you will still have to buy your medicines out of pocket,” it said.
It also highlighted the absence of new measures for a mass transport system, as well as continuing challenges in housing affordability, classroom shortages, and the lack of Learning Support Educators (LSEs).
‘Labour ignored the real causes’
The PN accused the Government of ignoring the root causes of national pressure — “population growth without any plan” — and of failing to invest adequately in public infrastructure.
“Capital expenditure for projects has been cut by no less than €100 million,” the party stated. “This is a Budget that throws money around but does not offer solutions.”
Gozo ‘forgotten again’
The PN also criticised the absence of key projects for Gozo, noting that plans for a new hospital, new ferries, and a Law Courts building have “completely disappeared” from the 2026 Budget.
“The project for the construction of a new hospital has vanished. There is no mention of new ferries, the Gozo Law Court, or a national mental health hospital,” the PN said. “The Budget mentions nothing about the building of new schools either.”
‘Government copied PN tax proposal — but only halfway’
The PN said it welcomed the Government’s attempt to reduce taxes for parents with children under 18, calling it “a copy” of its own proposal, but added that the increase is “less than half of what the PN proposed.”
It also criticised the Government for not offering tax reductions to single persons, couples without children, or pensioners, who it said “feel the burden of the cost of living like everyone else.”
PN says Government “throws money around but offers no solutions”
The PN concluded that Budget 2026 “hands out money, increases debt, and forgets people’s problems.”
“Money is handed out… but the problems remain,” it said. “This is a Budget that throws money around but does not offer solutions.”
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