Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.)The May 30 general election boils down to one key question: Which of the political parties has the credibility to implement their electoral manifesto? The Labour Party and the Nationalist Party are announcing, daily, their electoral proposals - some are more generous than others. The Nationalist Party seems to be caught in the weird cycle of trying to outdo the Labour Party proposals, and it is becom

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Two weeks have already passed since the start of the electoral campaign, and the contrast between the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party, particularly that between Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition leader Alex Borg, couldn't be clearer. The Prime Minister is upbeat, positive, and full of energy and enthusiasm - above all, he is constantly announcing proposals that are feasible, costed,

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) It's decision time again. On May 30, the people will choose their government for the next legislature. Prime Minister Robert Abela is seeking his second term. The Nationalist Party has been in opposition since 2013 and has had five leaders since then. Alex Borg has, from the day he was elected PN leader, said in no uncertain terms that he will win. Despite consistently positive polls for the Labour

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Political polls provide a snapshot of the electorate's mood at the time they are taken. They are in no way indicative of an election's outcome. However, while trends consistently show the Labour Party's strong electoral support, polls have now consistently pointed to declining trust in PN leader Alex Borg and his party. There seems to be widespread consensus that the PN lacks political gravitas on m

Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government This evening, Prime Minister and Labour leader Robert Abela delivers his concluding speech at the Labour Party Congress. It was a week-long congress that saw the participation of many people across all ages and backgrounds. The purpose of this congress was to shape the next electoral manifesto of the Labour Party. Starting in Gozo last Sunday and concluding today at Ta' Qali, the Congress was structured in a way to decentra

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) In the first ten years of its existence, Arts Council Malta shaped Malta's cultural landscape. It was set up with the intention of giving culture and the arts a professional structure and drive them forward. In ten years, it grew into the leading organisation that has managed to redefine how culture and the arts operate within Maltese society, socially, economically, and even internationally. I am p

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) A few days away from Holy Week, I had the pleasure of announcing a restoration project that is close to my heart: The restoration of the historical Parish Church of Zurrieq, dedicated tl St. Catherine of Alexandria. Initiatives like this breathe new life into our village cores. In an era where we must balance urban development and modernization with safeguarding historical landscapes, such projects

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) In 1979, thousands of jobs depended directly or indirectly on the British naval base. The question was: How does a small island nation survive without its primary economic engine? Many were uncertain about the future, but one man was not: Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, who believed in the resilience of the Maltese people. Forty-seven years later, Malta has the fastest-growing economy in the eurozone

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) We started the week on a high, as Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that the Labour government had managed to secure a historic deal to reclaim back Manoel Island and Fort Tigne. We had given our word that we would return the entirety of Manoel Island and Fort Tigné to Maltese and Gozitan families, and that is exactly what we will do. It was no mean feat. The negotiations were delicate, but our

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) This week, at the launch of the Malta Biennale 2026, I announced the establishment of the Malta Biennale Foundation. It was a decision taken at Tuesday's Cabinet of Ministers meeting, which will have a long-term positive impact on Malta's artistic and cultural sectors. This foundation will be the entity responsible for managing and organising the Malta Biennale in the coming years. It will provid

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) The world is once again navigating dangerous waters. The escalating US/Israel war with Iran has sent shockwaves far beyond the immediate region. Global markets have been destabilized, energy security threatened, amid escalating fears of broader conflict.Countries that were an oasis of peace and stability, now find themselves severely impacted. The United Arab Emirates, a major economic hub, has f

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) It's a big day for Malta today, as Prime Minister Robert Abela, this evening in Valletta, launches Malta Vision 2050 - a transformative, long-term strategy designed to chart a course for the next 25 years of Malta's development. Malta Vision 2050 is a forward-looking blueprint for prosperity, a better quality of life, stronger social justice, and further cultural flourishing. It prepares Malta for t

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) This week in Parliament, I explained that with the coming into force of Budget 2026, investment in culture and the arts will be strengthened, and that our ambition for these sectors will be furthered. Budget 2026 is a budget with a strong social heart that the Labour government, led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, has demonstrated time and again. It improves the quality of life of Maltese and Gozi

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) I have always strongly believed in culture and the arts to transform, unite, and inspire. The second edition of the Malta Biennale, to commence on March 14, over 11 weeks, will do just that. It already did, in its first edition, which was an extraordinary success. The second edition, I'm sure, will be even better. For years now, Malta has been taking an active part in various art biennales, and

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) This weekend and up until the 17th of February, Valletta, our capital city, will be buzzing with activity for Carnival weekend. Carnival in Malta has become a household name within the European continent and the Mediterranean region, as thousands of people travel to Malta to witness the splendour of the Maltese carnival. The Carnival floats are getting better every year, showcasing the extraordinary

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) This week, Dr. Luke Dalli, the Executive Chairman of Arts Council Malta, and I announced that Malta has officially become a member of Eurimages, the Council of Europe's film support fund. This is an important step for our country's domestic audiovisual sector and its integration into the European cultural landscape. The membership followed a comprehensive evaluation process led and coordinated by

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Last Saturday's Malta Eurovision Song Contest was remarkable in many ways. Congratulations to this year's winner, Aidan, who gave an excellent performance. I am sure that Aidan will do Malta proud at the Eurovision Song Contest later this year. Congratulations, and thank you to all the artists who took part in this event that unfailingly remains popular and generates huge interest every year. Than

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Malta's economy is doing well, and the people are optimistic about the future. This is in deep contrast to other EU member states. The situation in Malta is not a matter of luck. It is the result of a Labour government, led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, that is competent on economic matters and that values social justice, a value that is deeply embedded at the heart of the Labour government. It

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) A huge crowd of 70,000 people celebrated the start of 2026 in Valletta at an event organized by the Valletta Cultural Agency. Valletta, now formally recognised by the Constitution as Malta's capital city, shone in its splendour. The beautiful fireworks display and a strong lineup of local and foreign musicians and artists made the start of 2026 truly memorable. A lot of work and effort went into the

Owen Bonnici (Minister for National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government.) Last week, as the Minister for Culture, Lands and Local Government, I launched the Temp25+ scheme. The goal of this program is to help more Maltese and Gozitans become full owners of their homes by paying off, at a fair, just and reasonable price, the ground rent on properties built on government land. Temp25+ will offer families certainty and peace of mind. This scheme is aimed at residents, fa