Nationalists turn down seat on bipartisan committee on economic growth
PN says Opposition’s role is to scrutinize government, not give it advice.
The Opposition has refused to take park in a bipartisan 'action committee' for economic growth, the government announced in a statement.
The bipartisan team, announced by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during the 2013 election campaign, was intended to include key stakeholders in a committee intended at fostering new ways of generating economic growth.
The government accused the Nationalist Party of "closing the doors to a golden opportunity" to foster economic growth, by cooperating on the action team. "The government is saddened that the Opposition wants to pursue this negative attitude when it is being shown the hand of friendship," the government said.
Former finance minister Tonio Fenech was said to have first asked for more information on the nature of the action group, before refusing participation. The reason given was that the Opposition's role was to "scrutinize government, and not giving it advice", government sources told MaltaToday.
In a statement, the PN said its parliamentry group said it could not accept the invitation because it requires that the selected MP - Tonio Fenech - act in the role of a government consultant. "This goes against the Opposition's constitutional role in a parliamentary democracy. The Opposition is dedicated to contribute constructively towards the country's social, economic, cultural and constitutional role, as it has in its approval of Budget 2012, which gave a clear and positive signal to economists and our country's investors."
Nationalist MP Simon Busuttil, who is contesting the post of party leadership, has already stated in parliament that Nationalist MPs should not accept political appointments by the government and "be bribed by government".
On its part, the government said it wanted to involve all stakeholders in the economic management of the country. "An Opposition's constitutional role is important in our democracy, but the PN is not seeing the signs of the times and that this role is evolving - the electorate expects positive politics. This government is ready to work with anybody who wants the best for this country and its doors remain open to the Opposition."