PN accuses Joseph Muscat of 'promising the moon'

Barely an hour before the Opposition leader Jospeh Muscat addressed the nation in Parliament in his budget speech, the Nationalist Party said Muscat is promising everything to everyone in the most irresponsible manner.

The party held a press conference today to launch its latest, and most ingenious billboard so far, which depicts Muscat standing in front of the water fountain outside Parliament in St George's Square, holding an umbrella.

The PN's Executive president Marthese Portelli said Labour leader Joseph Muscat's only ambition is to gain power "but in reality he doesn't care about what's really of importance to you. Muscat makes populist choices while the PN makes responsible choices."

Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adam pointed out that Muscat is ready to promise the moon to everyone in order to win the forthcoming election.

"This emerges clearly when Muscat says he will reduce utility bills, yet he hasn't yet stated how, when and how he will compensate for the reductions," Fenech Adami said.

He noted that gas, which Muscat has been citing as the solution, is more expensive than the fuels currently used at the Delimara power plant.

The MP also hit out at Muscat for making wild promises in regards to planning permits while saying that he will protect the environment.

"While Muscat talks about meritocracy, his MPs talk about transfers," Fenech Adami said. He added that another instance which uncovers Muscat's opportunism is his attempts to depict himself as a convinced EU advocate, "despite his five-year crusade against Malta's EU accession."

Alluding to former Labour Prime Minister Alfred Sant's decision to contest European Parliament elections, the MP said: "At the same time he wants appease eurosceptics in his own parliamentary group and thinks he can reopen the negotiation agreement with the EU."

Fenech Adami added that Muscat is insisting on giving back the €50 million in regards to the car registration legal battle, even though the court might still give a negative ruling.

Tourism minister Mario de Marco pointed out that the country will soon go to the polls and the electorate will have to choose between "the PL who is promise everything without explaining the what and the how, and the PN, who has consistently achieved positive results."

He denied that the PN has sent a leaflet to civil service employees warning that a Labour government would carry out transfers and said he was unaware of the leaflet's existence.