The PL has made it clear that all it does is “cast” PN proposals in a negative light, said PN candidate Ivan J Bartolo.

Bartolo, in a PN press conference today, said that the PL policy had put the country on the FATF gray list and that the government had not created a single new economic sector.

“This obviously shows the arrogance of the PL. It has not yet presented its plan for the country, but rather takes the electoral program of the PN and tries to transform its proposals to confuse people,” Bartolo said.

On the other hand, the policies of the PN are modern and responsible, because they put the citizen at the center of everything, he said.

He said environmental, social and good governance (ESG) requirements will inspire citizens and businesses to do better for the country, and they will be rewarded for it. It comes after Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said a PN government would create an additional burden for companies, while also asking how the PN plans to calculate the ESG framework requirements.

Bartolo said ESG frameworks will be different for different companies and key performance indicators (KPIs) will be taken into account to determine whether companies comply with ESG requirements. He said those who comply with the ESG will benefit from the possibility of seeing corporate tax rates reduced to 15%. The PN will already reduce corporation tax from 35% to 25%.

Bartolo went on to say that the PL has increased bureaucracy by increasing the burden of excessive due diligence on businesses, as well as placing Malta on the gray list.

The PN says that if someone, for example, separates their waste, that will be part of the environmental incentives. Paying taxes on time is an example of good governance and integrating people with disabilities into society shows social obligations, Bartolo said.

The PN candidate, Jérôme Caruana Cilia, reiterated the PN’s proposals for retirees, some of which include increasing pensions as well as not increasing social contributions or taxes. This will ensure that pensions are structured in a sustainable way, he said.