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The tenth day of the electoral campaign
By MaltaMedia News
Feb 13, 2008 - 10:04:25 PM
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The tenth day of the electoral campaign saw the closing of nominations for election candidates at 1900 CET. 260 nominations were received in all.
Former Prime Minister and ex-leader of the Malta Labour Party Dom Mintoff presented himself at the offices of the Electoral Commission in Evans Building, Valletta on Wednesday but he did not present his nomination. Read more.
 Speaking at a Business Breakfast on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi spoke about the financial package that the Nationalist Party (PN) is proposing. PM Gonzi explained that thanks to a tax reform, the number of people who will not be paying tax as well as those paying 15 per cent tax, is set to increase. The PN is also suggesting that the 35 per cent tax rate for those earning up to €60,000 is reduced to 25 per cent.
The environment will remain one of the party’s number one priorities, the Prime Minister said while pledging to invest €300 million from EU funds by 2013 towards the environment which would also see the restoration of bastions among other things.
The Prime Minister again spoke about his intentions of taking personal responsibility for a reform of the Malta Environment Planning Authority and of the environment ministry if the Nationalist Party wins the general elections on March 8. “MEPA has already brought about big changes when addressing scandals made by the Labour government before 1987. However the country now has articulate challenges which include the tourism and industry sector.”
On Wednesday morning, the Nationalist Party also presented its 77 candidates for the upcoming general elections. Among them are nine young persons, eleven women and 26 new candidates. Fifteen PN candidates will be presented on the ninth district and fourteen on the eleventh district.
The Green Party (AD) also presented its election candidates on Wednesday during a press conference. The AD candidates will contest each district. Meanwhile, during the press conference, Alternattiva Demokratika called on the Prime Minister to publish the MEPA auditor’s report on the Sant’ Antnin recycling plant which to date has not been revealed.
The Prime Minister wants to assume direct responsibility of MEPA so it becomes what he said ‘more transparent’, Dr Harry Vassallo and Architect Carmel Cacopardo said. They therefore challenged Dr Gonzi to publish the auditor’s report within 48 hours. Otherwise, AD will do so itself, the party retaliated.
 Meanwhile, Opposition leader Dr Alfred Sant started the day by addressing the press in front of the Gzira Health Centre. Dr Sant stated that in 2004, Dr Lawrence Gonzi’s government had considered financing the public health sector through payments and taxes. A Labour government will instead guarantee that health services while being improved will remain free of charge.
Following an election of the Labour government, the latter will decrease waiting lists by 15 per cent each year, Dr Sant said. Structural changes will take place at St Luke’s hospital to accommodate persons with disabilities. Within a year and a half, the law on mental health will be modernized while the Commission for Mental Health will work consistently and be given the relevant importance.
Dr Sant continued his electoral campaign by touring Marsascala, Zejtun and Fgura on Wednesday evening.
The Police have started distributing voting documents for the local and general elections.
For more details see MaltaMedia's special feature on the 2008 Malta General Elections.
© Copyright 2008 by MaltaMedia.com
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Latest update:
Feb 15, 2008 - 6:56:34 PM CET
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