‘Government not categorically against abortion’ – Busuttil

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has insisted that a denial by the government that a debate on abortion laws was not on the cards, was not as categorical as government has claimed to be.

Busuttil was commenting on an opinion piece penned by former PN leader Lawrence Gonzi, who set out on a defence of Busuttil's party's abstention during a parliamentary vote on civil unions that also accorded gay couples the right to adopt children. Gonzi has claimed that an "abortion debate" could be next on the political agenda.

"What Gonzi said is his own prerogative," Busuttil said when asked by MaltaToday why the party appeared keen to bring abortion into the political debate when all major parties have been cartegorically against abortion. "I refer you to Helena Dalli's commenbts yesterday in which she said that abortion was not part of the government's plans 'at this point in time' which showed that the government was not as categorically against it as it previously claimed."

Busuttil, who was visiting the Attard and Co foodstuffs firm as part of the European Parliament elections campaign, laid into the government's economic track record, which showed that unemployment figures were up from last year.

Dubbing minister for the economy Chris Cardona "conspicuous by his absence" and finance minister Edward Scicluna "conspicuous by his gaffes", Busuttil said that unemployment figures would be even higher had the government not recruited people to work in government posts.

Busuttil also expressed his shock at claims made by Medical Association of Malta president Martin Balzan in parliament yesterday, which suggested that Scicluna, in a meeting with Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), outlined his intention to reduce the country's deficit by cutting down on expenses within the health sector.