TradeMalta has successfully concluded its first trade delegation to the United Kingdom, bringing together a high-level delegation of Maltese businesses and institutional stakeholders for a strategic programme across Liverpool, Wrexham, and Cardiff.

The multi-city mission was designed to strengthen long-term collaboration between Malta and the United Kingdom by fostering strategic partnerships that go beyond individual business opportunities and build stronger foundations for sustained cooperation in innovation, trade, investment, and sector development.

Representing a broad cross-section of Malta’s economy, the delegation engaged with businesses, government representatives, chambers of commerce, innovation hubs, and industry stakeholders across a range of sectors, including technology and digital innovation, advanced manufacturing and engineering, life sciences, financial services and hospitality and tourism.

Throughout the programme, participants explored areas of mutual interest and identified opportunities for collaboration between Maltese and UK organisations. Each location offered a distinct perspective: Liverpool’s established innovation ecosystem and strong position in maritime industries, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, digital technology, and renewable energy; Wrexham’s growing role as a fast-growing North Wales manufacturing and industrial hub, leveraging its strategic location, skilled workforce, competitive costs, and government-backed Investment Zone to attract trade, exports, and private investment; and Cardiff’s strengths in life sciences, fintech, financial and professional services, creative industries and emerging technologies.

Commenting on the mission, TradeMalta CEO Tania Brown said: “The objective of this business delegation was to strategically invest in building the commercial relationships that drive trade, investment, and long-term economic growth. We came away with stronger connections, a clearer understanding of mutual opportunities, and a shared commitment to turning dialogue into tangible business outcomes. The level of engagement, ambition and openness from our UK partners has been exceptional, reinforcing the significant potential for deeper collaboration between Malta and the UK in the years ahead.”

The success of this visit was further supported through the valued assistance and thoughtful coordination extended from the United Kingdom, in particular by Mr. Stephen Montefort, High Commissioner of Malta to the United Kingdom, and Mr. Reuben Mifsud, Honorary Consul of Malta to Wales, amongst others. Their continued engagement and steadfast cooperation ensured that each interaction was meaningful, well‑structured, and aligned with the broader objectives of the delegation.

TradeMalta remains committed to strengthening Malta’s position as a trusted international business hub and a competitive partner for global trade and investment. Through strategic initiatives such as this trade mission, TradeMalta continues to facilitate market access, foster high-value commercial connections, and support Malta-based businesses in identifying and capitalising on international growth opportunities.

Businesses interested in exploring international markets are encouraged to get in touch with TradeMalta to discuss their plans and access guidance and support tailored to their needs.

For more information about TradeMalta’s services, visit www.trademalta.org or call 2247 2400.

Celebrate the FIFA World Cup 26 biggest plays at the Golden Arches with a new, limited-time meal, specially packaged Big Mac Sauce, and one of six star-studded collectible cups starring David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Thierry Henry, Heung-Min Son and Lamine Yamal – and our very own, Grimace!

• Families and youngest fans can join the match day magic too with the FIFA World Cup 26 Happy Meal and one of 12 of Squishmallows most popular plushies kitted in tournament-inspired jerseys

This summer, McDonald’s is welcoming fans worldwide – including some of the most iconic names in football – to celebrate the game’s biggest moments together, turning a shared passion into global energy you can taste, see, and feel. From iconic footballers kicking off with a bite of a menu favorite to supporters keeping calm during a nail-biting penalty kick with our World Famous Fries, McDonald’s has long been part of matchday rituals shared by fans everywhere. Whether you’re cheering from the couch or a star player on the pitch, every fan can score big this year with the limited-time FIFA World Cup 26 Meal and Happy Meal – including collectible keepsakes – at participating McDonald’s worldwide.

“At McDonald’s, magic happens when families, friends, and fans come together and celebrate with the people they love. Partnering with the FIFA World Cup 26 allows us to take that shared joy and bring it to life at a global scale through our food, our experiences, and the ways fans connect with the game,” said Morgan Flatley, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of New Business Ventures at McDonald’s. “As football icons take the field to unite fans across continents, McDonald’s will be there from the first whistle to the final minute with limited-time meals and keepsakes so fans of all ages can be part of the excitement all tournament long and beyond.”

Starting June 9, savor every goal with the FIFA World Cup 26 Meal, featuring one of six legendary collectible cups featuring David Beckham, Ronaldinho Gaucho, Theirry Henry, Heung-Min Son and Lamine Yamal. And of course, the roster isn’t complete without our very own certified legend, Grimace.

David Beckham: “Football is about much more than what happens on the pitch. Campaigns like this bring fans and families together and build the excitement in the lead up and during the FIFA World Cup tournament.”

The meal comes with a choice between a Big Mac McMenu or a 9-pc Chicken McNuggets McMenu, paired with our limited edition, gold packaged Big Mac Sauce.

Future Football Stars and McDonald’s Fans Take the Pitch with the FIFA World Cup 26 Happy Meal Squishmallows Squad

For football and McDonald’s fans in training, the FIFA World Cup 26 Happy Meal brings the excitement of match day to McDonald’s! Each order comes with one of 12 Squishmallows plush, created from the brand’s most popular characters, repping the Happy Meal squad like Benny, Boyle, Gordon, Derba, Barella and Winnie Kitted in jerseys designed with unique colors, patterns, crests, numbers, and McDonald’s graphics, the collection invites families around the world into the game. 

Unlock Exclusive Experiences and Rewards in the McDonald’s App 

The McDonald’s app is bringing fans even closer to the FIFA World Cup 26 action with exclusive games, challenges and limited-edition merchandise tied to loyalty points.  

Football Legends. McDonald’s Fans. Same Matchday Rituals.

From the pitch to our legendary cups, football’s biggest names share their personal McDonald’s memories and experiences. 

Theirry Henry: “McDonald’s reminds me of home. The McDonald’s in Les Ulis was one of the first in the area, and growing up it was part of everyday life in the community. It wasn’t just about the food – it was a place people came together.”

Grimace: “Friends, food, and football equals big party!”

Join us for an unforgettable tournament and head to your local McDonald’s for the FIFA World Cup 26 Meal and FIFA World Cup 26 Happy Meal, while supplies last.

Bank of Valletta held its 52nd Annual General Meeting, during which shareholders approved one of the highest dividend payouts in recent years. The AGM also reflected on another year of solid financial performance and outlined the Group’s direction as it prepares for its next strategic cycle.

The BOV Group’s Chairperson, Dr Gordon Cordina and CEO Kenneth Farrugia addressed the shareholders present, explaining the BOV Group’s Financial Performance achieved in 2025, and the ongoing ambitious projects. Shareholders approved a final gross cash dividend of €65.1 million approved from the end-of-year 2025 profits. Over and above, shareholders will be taking a special dividend of €10.4 million gross. This brings the total gross dividend distribution for Financial Year 2025 to €130.5 million, equivalent to €0.2032 per share.

A Stronger and More Resilient Bank – Dr Gordon Cordina, Chairperson

Addressing shareholders, Dr Gordon Cordina, highlighted the Bank’s sustained performance over recent years and its continued focus on delivering long-term value. “Over the past three years, the Bank has built strong earnings momentum, achieving record results in 2024 and maintaining a robust performance in 2025,” Dr Cordina said. “This has enabled us to significantly increase dividend distributions, while sustaining the bank’s strong capital and liquidity buffers.”

He also highlighted a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening shareholder value, including the Share Buy-Back Programme, which supported market activity and liquidity. The Bank’s share price rose from €1.56 at the end of 2024 to €1.89 by the end of 2025, reaching €2.10 by March 2026, with BOV shares being by far the most actively traded on the Malta Stock Exchange.

Dr Cordina reiterated the Bank’s role in supporting Malta’s economy, as well as its commitment to customers and the wider community. “Bank of Valletta remains focused on creating sustainable value for its customers, shareholders and all stakeholders, while continuing to support economic development in Malta,” he added.

From Strength to Service: A More Accessible and Personal Bank – Kenneth Farrugia, CEO

In his address, BOV CEO Kenneth Farrugia said that the Bank is entering its next strategic phase from a position of strength, with a clear focus on improving how customers experience the Bank. “Our strong performance has given us the capacity to invest in strengthening customer access to the Bank, ensure resiliency and efficiency through technology, nurture human capital, aiming to sustain the delivery of long-term shareholder value. We are now moving towards positioning the Bank more strongly as a more accessible and personalised financial services provider.”

He pointed to the progress made in recent years, including the refurbishment of 11 branches and agencies, as well as the opening of a new business hub bringing together commercial banking services. On the digital side, he highlighted the Bank’s continued investment in innovation. “We continue to invest heavily, empowering customers to self-service their needs from wherever they are. Our new omnichannel e-banking platform is now in its final phase and will soon be rolled out to the first cohort of customers, as is our investment in the new generation of ATMs. We consolidated our payment solutions under the BOV SmartPay brand, whilst also rolling out digital onboarding solutions giving our customers the choice of options to engage with the Bank.”

Looking ahead, Mr Farrugia outlined the Bank’s priorities for the coming years. “We will continue to invest in improving customer journeys across all channels, strengthening our cybersecurity capabilities, and making better use of data to deliver more seamless, secure and, more importantly, personalised services,” he said.

Board Appointments

During the meeting, Mr Kelvin Camenzuli was appointed to the Board. He is replacing Mr Nicola Angeli, who did not seek re-appointment. On behalf of the Board, the Chairperson thanked Mr Angeli for his exemplary contributions during his years of service. The appointment of Mr Camenzuli is subject to regulatory approval, and his effective date of appointment shall be the date of receipt of his regulatory approval.

The Annual General Meeting has reappointed Dr Robert Suban for another term as Non-Executive Director, and Dr Gordon Cordina, nominated by the Government of Malta as a Qualifying Shareholder, for a third consecutive and final term, in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of the Bank.

The Board of Directors is now composed as follows:

Gordon Cordina Chairperson and Non-Executive Director
Ingrid Azzopardi Non-Executive Director
Christian Bonnici West Non-Executive Director
Diane Bugeja Non-Executive Director
Kelvin Camenzuli* Non-Executive Director
Kenneth Farrugia Executive Director
Anatoli Grech Executive Director
Anita Mangion Non-Executive Director
Hadrian Sammut Non-Executive Director
Deborah Schembri Non-Executive Director
Jonathan Spiteri Non-Executive Director
Robert Suban Non-Executive Director
Sue Vella Non-Executive Director

• Subject to regulatory approval, and the appointment date shall be deemed to be the date of receipt of regulatory approval.

Bank of Valletta (BOV) and the Association of Tractor and Trailer Operators (ATTO) have further consolidated their long-standing business relationship by signing a new Collaboration Agreement for the next two years. The agreement was signed by BOV Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Farrugia and ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja, in the presence of BOV Chief Operations Officer Ernest Agius, Head of Business Development & Customer Value Kenneth B Micallef, and ATTO board members and industry practitioners, at the BOV Centre in Santa Venera.

The alliance between the Bank and ATTO goes back several years. This agreement is one of several business alliances established by the Bank with various organisations across different sectors, reflecting its commitment to support industries and sectors that play a vital role in Malta’s economic well-being.

Through its agreement with ATTO, BOV is supporting Malta’s logistics and transport sector. This collaboration also helps the Bank better understand the sector’s specific challenges and opportunities, enabling it to provide solutions such as trade financing and cross-border payments.

Speaking about the renewed agreement, BOV CEO Kenneth Farrugia noted that transportation plays a critical role in modern industry and is a key contributor to many economies around the world. “BOV remains committed to helping this sector transition towards more efficient and sustainable operations. We continue to provide financing solutions that encourage investment in modern, efficient and environmentally responsible vehicles, helping to reduce environmental impact, while supporting the long-term viability and competitiveness of the industry”, said Mr Farrugia. 

ATTO Chairman Joseph Bugeja underlined the industry’s importance to Malta’s economy and stressed the value of collaborations that help address the challenges facing the industry. He thanked Mr Farrugia for the Bank’s continued support and stated, “This agreement strengthens ATTO’s capacity to support a key pillar of Malta’s logistics sector, ensuring reliable daily connectivity with mainland Europe.”

ATTO represents logistics operators in Malta and plays a vital role in connecting Malta to international markets. ATTO members are responsible for transporting approximately 85% of Malta’s imports and exports via International Trailer Services. 

The two licensed producer responsibility organisations (PROs) are operating under Malta’s Law on Waste Management: WEEE Malta is responsible for implementing collective producer responsibility for electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), and Green MT for packaging.

Through the partnerships, Temu helps streamline key compliance processes for sellers, including registration, reporting, and eco-contribution payments, reducing operational complexity while supporting local waste management systems.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Temu to support sellers in meeting their environmental responsibilities. This agreement helps create a more streamlined and accessible compliance pathway, contributing to the sustainable growth of the e-commerce sector in Malta,” said Sergio Mallia, Chief Operations Officer of WEEE Malta.

The Malta Chamber of SMEs President, Mr. Paul Abela, welcomed the recent agreement, stating: “This collaboration is a significant step forward in empowering all sellers to succeed in Malta. By championing high standards together, we are creating a vibrant, balanced marketplace where all market participants can thrive responsibly.”

Temu has established cooperation with more than 50 licensed producer responsibility organisations across the European Union, covering categories including packaging, batteries, and WEEE. These partnerships help sellers meet their extended producer responsibility obligations and support local collection and recycling systems.

“This collaboration provides sellers with a more straightforward pathway to meet local compliance requirements,” said a Temu spokesperson. “We aim to offer practical guidance and support to help sellers navigate evolving regulatory frameworks.”

The painting of Our Lady of the Rosary, on the lateral altar of the Old Church of St Sebastian in Ħal Qormi, has been restored with the support of the BOV Foundation. The altarpiece, typical of late nineteenth‑century sacred art, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus as she presents the Rosary to St Dominic, with a dog beside him carrying a flaming torch in its mouth. The artwork was donated to the church by the Gulia-Schembri family, whose coat of arms is depicted on the left-hand side of the painting.

Despite a number of interventions carried out in the past, including one undertaken in the early 1970s during which the canvas was permanently stuck to the hardboard, the altarpiece was in a poor state of conservation. The canvas suffered from tears, especially towards the top of the painting, and the paint layer had begun to detach and flake.

The conservation and restoration work was carried out by PrevArti. Pierre Bugeja, founder and senior conservator at PrevArti, outlined the interventions undertaken on the altarpiece. He explained that the works included the cleaning of the canvas, the removal of yellowed varnish and previous retouching and over-painting. This intervention proved challenging for the conservators, as much of the paint added during previous interventions had been applied directly onto the canvas without any preparatory stucco being applied. Work was also carried out to consolidate the canvas in areas where it had detached from the hardboard.

Ernest Agius, on behalf of the BOV Foundation, remarked that the Bank is proud to support communities through projects of this nature. He stated, “It is an honour for BOV to stand alongside various communities and entities in the conservation and restoration of artistic works. Works such as this are valuable not only from an artistic perspective but also from a historical and social one. This forms part of our corporate social responsibility and represents a way for us to give back to society.”

While the artist who painted this altarpiece remains unknown, popular tradition suggests it is most likely of Neapolitan origin. During the cleaning process carried out as part of the present restoration, snippets of the artist’s signature were uncovered, namely the first letter and the final two letters. Despite this discovery, the artist remains unidentified, and research is ongoing. The altarpiece of Our Lady of the Rosary was donated to the Church of St Sebastian at a time when Ħal Qormi had begun to develop into an urban centre.

After the hype of the election campaign dissipates and the commotion following the result dies down, those who are “into politics” spend the next few weeks analysing what the numbers all mean; the significance of the turnout, which way people voted and the reasoning of those who stayed home.  (Meanwhile, the rest of the population has simply resumed their previous life and headed for the beach).

There is no doubt that Alex Borg made great strides in just seven months. It is a fact which could be felt especially towards the end of the campaign when formerly disillusioned PN voters came out in their droves to give him their support. He slashed what seemed like an insurmountable gap by half and gave Nationalist supporters (especially the youth vote) a glimmer of hope that a win was possible, which is no mean feat.

But narrowing that gap wasn’t enough and now some Nationalist supporters in their frustration and disappointment are trying to lash out and look for scapegoats. Of course, the disillusionment is understandable; for those who desperately wanted to get rid of Labour the prospect of another term under this government probably seems unthinkable.  On the other hand, bickering on Facebook is a useless exercise and so are the far-fetched theories which I have seen being circulated. 

The first target on their list were those who voted for the small parties whom they are accusing of helping to get Labour elected on the presumption that these votes would normally have gone to the PN. Hmm, don’t be so sure, because there is a faction of former Labour voters who feel completely detached from the capitalist monolith which the PL has become, and can now only relate to parties such as Momentum and ADPD. If one is truly left-wing how on earth can you vote for a conservative, right-wing party like the PN?  This belief that one should vote PN at any cost simply to get Labour out has been touted in a number of elections but this strategy keeps failing for obvious reasons. One votes for a party which represents one’s values and principles and berating people for not voting as you would want them to has never worked. 

It also did not help Alex Borg’s cause that he did not offer a real alternative to Labour’s current policies. Pie in the sky proposals such as building a metro and five more hospitals will not solve the three biggest issues the country is facing: over-development, over-population and traffic. It is no coincidence that an invisible thread links all three and that the two main parties tip-toed gingerly around them out of fear that they would step on too many business toes and disturb the almighty god known as the economy.

The day after the result came out I read some silly non-sequiturs with people in traffic claiming “you can thank those who voted Labour”. Did they seriously think a PN Government would magically conjure up the metro from one day to the next? Frankly, the only party which offered a realistic, workable solution to traffic which could be implemented overnight was Momentum – its proposal is to cut down on private car use by introducing subsidies for cabs to add a ‘share a ride’ option. (If I were the new transport Minister I would swallow my pride, give credit where it’s due and take them up on this idea because it is a win-win).  

There were also contradictions in the PN manifesto: on the one hand proposing the National Population Authority, which in itself is a sensible idea, and yet not saying where all the hundreds of workers required to build its metro and hospitals would come from.  It was also a mis-step by Alex Borg to announce a joint task force between the Armed Forces of Malta and the Police to go after illegal immigrants, which smacked too much like Trump’s ICE tactics ….we all saw how that ended up.  The most logical way to control the influx of more foreign workers is to go to the source: the employers offering them jobs and then firing them and the official authorities who are enabling this. Yet neither of the two parties would go so far as to state that no more permits would be issued for new shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels.  As I write the former Lascaris power plant in Floriana has been given the green light to be turned into (another) boutique hotel plus high end offices, retail outlets and restaurants “as part of a continued regeneration of the Grand Harbour area.”

The PN also never explained, in a concrete way, how it would curb further construction and clamp down on illegal development. It did not stick its neck out much for the environment either because when it came to the crunch it voted in favour of the decision to allocate virgin land in Pembroke to build a massive sports and commercial complex.  More handouts and freebies? Sure we will give them out too.  Hunting? We will protect you. A fireworks factory caused massive destruction? Hands off, it is our tradition!  In short, on things which matter to a lot of people, the Nationalist party has failed to demonstrate that it was really that different. 

PN voters also set their sights on foreigners, with some going so far as to say with complete conviction that Labour won because TCNs (for which read Indian, Philippine, Pakistani, Nepal nationals) were given a vote. I have seen this allegation repeated numerous times with nothing to substantiate it. There has simply been no proof of people without Maltese citizenship being given a vote. This claim started after photos were circulated showing TCNs celebrating the PL’s victory, but it really does not take a rocket scientist to understand why.

Put simply, Labour created this economic model which relies on foreign workers and which has given them much needed employment – in contrast, the PN rhetoric was becoming increasingly anti-foreigner. Rather than indulging in conspiracy theories, all you have to do is put yourself in their shoes…who would you be cheering for?

Elections aside, when it comes to our foreign workforce which is propping up more than one sector, political leaders have to be very careful what words they choose because it unleashes the latent racism in both PN and PL supporters. Aside from displaying a cold callousness towards people who are just trying to earn a living, I know for a fact that adopted children of a different race (who are by law Maltese nationals) are being subjected to the vicious hatred I have read online.  They are being bullied at school, being called horrible names by other children and it does not take much imagination to deduce where they are learning this behaviour from.

Some home truths

For all the unfounded claims, there are others which we cannot deny.

Did the government have an advantage because of the power of incumbency? Yes of course.  Giving people jobs during an election campaign should not be allowed, and a caretaker government should not inaugurate new projects.  But it is only MPs who can push forward this legislation so that should be their first order of business. 

Was the Labour Party worried about the Alex Borg effect? Yes, it is quite clear now that the results are in, that the election was called a year early because Robert Abela realised the young, fresh PN leader was making inroads and closing the gap. 

Do voters ‘reward’ someone they perceive as a victim?  Yes, as I wrote a few weeks ago about sympathy votes when people are personally attacked, Rosianne Cutajar was re-elected despite her previous ethical misconduct, while Conrad Borg Manche’ was elected not on one but two districts, despite personal family matters being made public.  

Did the Omar Rababah candidacy backfire?  Undoubtedly yes, but only on Omar himself.  If the PL was trying to attract the (unquantified) “Muslim vote” it did not work because Omar Rababah did not fare well. As if to further confirm that Labour miscalculated the backlash regarding this candidate, his district was not one of the ones which were opened for a bye election, effectively sealing his fate, and preventing him from getting a seat in Parliament. As for all the supposedly thousands of Muslim voters which people were so terrified of, I guess none of them live in the 11 towns and villages which Omar contested. 

Does the gender corrective mechanism work? Well yes and no. It will certainly help push a number of women who did poorly at the polls to get into Parliament. But it certainly is not working for ADPD candidate Sandra Gauci who received substantially more votes (594 on 6th district and 950 on 12th district) than the women who will eventually have a seat. The PL and the PN made sure of that in the way they devised this law. I still do not agree with the mechanism, as I believe a woman should only get a seat on her own merit, but the least they could have done is to not discriminate against women themselves. 

And finally, a look at some other numbers which are arguably just as important as the results. Over 44,000 did not vote (15,500 of these did not collect their vote), representing 12.5% of the electorate. It would be pertinent for all the parties to examine the demographics of this cohort to better read the pulse of the electorate. 

A group of employees from Bank of Valletta spent a day volunteering at id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi, lending their support across a range of activities, including cleaning, kitchen duties, washing the Home’s vehicles, and carrying out general maintenance work.

The Bank has long been a proud supporter of this organisation through a number of initiatives, most notably the annual BOV Volleyball Marathon, which this year will be held between the 16^th and 18^th July and, for the first time, at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali.

This volunteering activity at id-Dar tal-Providenza forms part of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to the community through a structured volunteering programme that has seen strong employee participation during the first months of 2026. Around 100 employees from different units within the Bank dedicated their time to support nine NGOs working in the social and environmental sectors. Between February and April, the NGOs supported were Embrace, Inspire, Voice of Inclusion Gozo, Dar Papa Franġisku, Caritas Malta, Conservatorio Vincenzo Bugeja, MSPCA, Din l-Art Ħelwa, and Grow 10 Trees. 

The Bank offers its people one day of volunteering leave, in addition to their standard leave entitlement. Launched in 2024, this initiative forms part of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and highlights the strong link between teamwork and a positive impact on society. 

Ernest Agius, BOV Chief Operations Officer, stated, “Volunteering activities, such as this one at id-Dar tal-Providenza, continue to be an important pillar for Bank of Valletta, as they strengthen our engagement with the community we serve. The strong participation of employees since the launch of the volunteering initiative in 2024 reflects both management’s and our employees’ genuine commitment to give back and make a positive impact on society.”

Ray Debattista, BOV Chief People & Culture Officer, highlighted the bond that these volunteering initiatives create among employees outside their working environment. “They reflect the Bank’s commitment to employee well-being, given the positive impact that such experiences have on our staff’s personal development and overall engagement,” he said. 

The NGOs involved welcomed the employees’ support and expressed appreciation for the time, energy, and enthusiasm dedicated to their respective causes. 

In its report, the CFI.co judging panel highlighted the continued growth in MeDirect’s client base and the strength of its financial position, supported by the recent investment from its new shareholder, Banka CREDITAS. Judges also pointed to the Group’s reinforced governance framework, including enhancements in risk management, compliance, data governance, platform security and fraud prevention, as key factors underpinning its performance.  

Commenting on the award, Jean-Claude Maher, Group Chief Executive Officer of MeDirect, said: “This recognition reflects the progress we are making in delivering on our strategy to offer customers a secure, easy-to-use platform with access to high quality savings and investment solutions. Our focus remains on using technology and innovation to provide better service and value, while maintaining the highest standards of security, governance and risk management.” 

He added that, “MeDirect’s growth in both Malta and Belgium is principally fuelled by an affluent customer base that has long been overcharged and underserved within the predominantly traditional banking landscape. Our commitment to continuously enhancing our proposition and improving the customer experience is honouring the growing trust our clients place in our services.” 

MeDirect operates as a Malta-anchored digital bank, serving retail customers in Malta and Belgium. In Malta, the Bank also offers services through its branches in Sliema and Gozo, as well as a broad range of digital and in-person services to business customers. The Group’s relentless investment in technology and innovation continues to broaden its offering and deepen its capabilities as it grows across its core markets.

This week, an expat on a FB group who was trying to understand our politics asked why Maltese people constantly complain but then don’t actually vote to change things.

It’s a question many of us ask as well, not just about politics but about other various microcosms all over the island: workplaces and entities where the blatant mismanagement and dubious practices at the top filter down and poison everything.

My conclusion is that the reason many people moan and whine but hold back when it comes to actually voting for change is down to the adage, “better the devil you know”. Grumbling, especially behind a keyboard, has become a national past-time which, paradoxically, has led to more apathy.  It’s like those who complain but never actually physically attend a protest, hiding behind all sorts of excuses. There are other factors, of course, like party loyalty/tradition, coupled with a tribal “us vs them” mentality (I’ll be damned if I will let the other side win). Let’s not forget the feeling of “obligation” towards a party which has helped them in some way; political favours are so commonplace here they are not even considered unethical any more, but simply the way things are done. If you have a friend in high places, you just give them a call to ensure you skip the queue or push some application forward, mhux ovvja? This mindset is so ingrained that if you don’t use your connections, you are considered a naive fool.

There is also the belief that “both parties end up being the same anyway, so what’s the point?” In fact when it comes to the country’s major issues which plague us on a daily basis, many have come to the grumpy but resigned verdict that it is too late to turn back the clock.  The fact that both main parties pander to big business without batting an eye has caused further disillusionment.  As if to drive the point home that the distinguishing line between the two is almost non-existent, Alex Borg in one of his last mass meetings assured the hunting lobby that their hobby was safe with him. Finally, let’s not dismiss the mercenary, calculating nature of many Maltese people – they size up whoever has the best chance of winning, who has the most clout and power and promptly throw their weight behind them.  It happened when the PN seemed unstoppable for so many years, and it has happened again with Labour.  

It’s probably in our psyche that we just want to be on the winning team rather than be associated with (God forbid!) the losers, because that kind of nomenclature will rub off on us ….and who wants to be labelled a loser?  We are not, by nature, magnanimous in victory, nor gracious when we lose and this will be evidenced once the votes are counted and the winner declared.  For those who are new to the country let me prepare you for convoys of cars driving around honking their horns, fanatic raucous supporters hanging out of the windows waving their party flag and a stream of expletives aimed at the losing side.  As I said, we don’t handle winning (or losing) very well. Let me remind you that when Labour leader Alfred Sant won in 1996 and told everyone to simply go home rather than indulge in carcades, supporters were so shocked and disappointed he is lucky they didn’t lynch him. Oh, and by the way if you are an employer, don’t be surprised if many people simply take Monday off and don’t show up for work, because the celebrations will still be in full force.  Even school transport was going to be suspended on Monday, but the operator had to reverse its decision after the Education department came down hard on this idea, rightly pointing out that the co-op must fulfil its obligations.  After all, the shenanigans of adults should not interfere with the rights of children to their education. 

By the time you read this, we will know the result but I am not about to make any predictions. What I can say is that Robert Abela’s decision not to appear in the Times Talk/Il-Kazin debate was one of his biggest mistakes in this campaign.  It was his duty as the Labour leader and the Prime Minister to attend, because he is asking people to vote for him again. He cannot treat the electorate like his faithful supporters who will parrot everything that is dished out by the party spin doctors, including the fact that “he had already taken part in a debate on the same day”.  So what? Did he lose his voice? Is there some kind of rule against two debates?  Maybe I didn’t want to watch the Chamber of Commerce one but I wanted to watch this particular format where questions were allowed from the public online and the people present in the audience?  I think by not going he looked cowardly, it was disrespectful to us, the electorate, and I am sure it cost him votes. 

What always surprises me when these things happen is that there are actually misguided voters who support this behaviour. One woman even wrote that “he is the PM, he has the privilege to go where he wants.” Excuse me?  Did I blink and he became king? No, there is no privilege when you need votes, in fact you need to eat humble pie, get off your high horse and be ready to answer all the tough questions, not pick and choose arenas where you will be treated with kid gloves.   The days of blind adulation of ‘the Leader’ should be over but sadly, they are not.  And that is Malta’s tragedy.  What many repeatedly forget is that power is bestowed on a politician by those who voted him in, and who continue to prop him up by applauding his every word. If you remove your support, the power is diffused, but as long as you keep claiming that person is too powerful and must be obeyed, you yourself have entrapped yourself in a cobweb from which you cannot become disentangled.

The explanation for his absence, when it came, sounded like a lame excuse.  He had booked other commitments, he said. So why didn’t he just tell them that instead of keeping them hanging?  After all, the debate invitation didn’t come at the last minute; according to Jon Mallia, both leaders were approached three weeks ago.  Alex Borg tentatively reserved two possible dates, but there was radio silence from the Labour headquarters.  The result was that Borg had two hours of valuable media exposure on his own, in which he answered tough questions while the podium next to him remained empty.  In order to try and paint himself as some kind of hero, Abela claimed he could hardly cancel an event with sports organisations and athletes.  Oh, please.  He must think he is dealing with people with nothing between their ears.

The icing on this election campaign cake was the inauguration of the new Bugibba square on Tuesday (all claims that it was perfectly timed for the eve of election are, of course, a figment of our imagination). Let’s just say that for 10 million Euro I would have expected, at the very least, the same amount of large trees providing shade which were shown in the artistic images published by the Malta Tourism Authority in February 2025.   Instead what we got was the Temu version, with a handful of saplings and small plants surrounding a stark, barren area covered by ugly, grey concrete.  As for the bizarre design of the square itself, well let’s just say it’s not going to win any aesthetic awards.   Sharp-eyed observers are already forecasting that the surrounding cafes will probably encroach on the public square with their chairs and tables…and maybe that was the plan all along.  

So what will change after the winner of this election is declared? What kind of Malta will we be waking up to?  Will the traffic, over-population and unbridled construction vanish once we know who has been given the mandate to lead? I would hazard to say that unless a real seismic change happens at the polls, unfortunately, it will be more of the same.