‘Election to be called early next year’ - Prime Minister

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was clear this morning that "whatever happens tomorrow, the general election will be called early next year".

Gonzi said that tomorrow he will be able to "take his decision" and tomorrow he will reveal "what would happen step by step". He however wouldn't confirm that the election will take place on 9 March as is being touted.

"But whatever happens tomorrow, the legislature is at its end. We swam a turbulent sea together. We won all obstacles, we moved forward together and got the best we could for our country. We can now today turn to you, proud with the results," he said.

The Prime Minister added that "whatever happens tomorrow, the time has come for me to make my decision".

Gonzi added that even if the Budget doesn't go through tomorrow, "we will implement what we can implement".

"If we can give the COLA increase we will give it. But there are measures that need the parliament's approval and we will tell you that we couldn't give them to you because others voted against."

According to Gonzi, it would have been irresponsible if his government didn't present the Budget for next year despite knowing that one of his MPs would be voting against it.

Speaking in Haz-Zebbug this morning, Gonzi said that the government couldn't throw away five years of work because someone wanted to "trip us up".

Interviewed by TVHemm presenter Norman Vella, Gonzi said the budget was named as the 'responsible choice' because this was the responsible choice.

"It would have been irresponsible if I chose to give importance to someone who wanted to hinder my work. The responsible choice was to continue with our work during this five-year term. Why give up at the last moment when we endured such a difficult term?" Gonzi said when asked whether it had been the better decision to go ahead and present the budget when the biggest possibility is that it wouldn't be approved.

"I don't play hide and seek with the people like someone else [Joseph Muscat] does. The framework of this budget is approved by the EU. The responsible choice was appearing before our families with a budget which will continue to help them."

Gonzi added that the European Commission has described the budget as "responsible and doable".

"Who is irresponsible? Someone like the Opposition leader who is promising the moon without saying how they will be financed. I only advise him to be careful, to not endanger our situation with the investors."

The Prime Minister added that given that Muscat was not explaining how he will reduce the utility bills, the only possible answer would be that of increasing taxes.

"Naturally, Muscat is saying that the Opposition would be voting against because the budget is a vote of no-confidence. So, if he approves of this budget, why didn't he vote in favour and then present a motion of no-confidence in government?" Gonzi said.

He added that another option would be for Muscat to present motions against those proposals which the Labour was against.

"But if you're a man, vote in favour of the social benefits... I know he will not do so," Gonzi said.

"Tomorrow I'll appear before the parliament and the public, call for the vote and then shoulder the responsiblity whatever happens."

'Judge Farrugia Sacco should resign'

The Prime Minister also backed up his party in its call for the resignation of Judge Lino Farrugia Sacco, implicated in an Olympic tickets selling scandal after an undercover investigation by The Sunday Times of London.

"I think he should chose the honourable way out and resign. He is a judge and his role calls for it. The credibility of the judiciary is at stake," Gonzi said.

Gonzi did not rule out the possibility of his side presenting a motion in the House of Representatives.

"If he doesn't resign out of his own will, then there are procedures which would have to be taken," he added.

Together with the Malta Olympic Commission's secretary general Joe Cassar, Farrugia Sacco has been rapped by the International Olympic Committee's ethics commission.

Asked why the PN was calling for the resignation of the judge when there were calls coming from different quarters for some of his Cabinet members to resign, Gonzi said that when motions of no-confidence were presented and approved, resignations followed.

"We always respected the result of motions whenever these occurred. Both Richard Cachia Caruana and Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigned... and I thank them for their seriousness and integrity."