‘Government is betraying everyone apart from Labour insiders’ – Busuttil

The government is betraying the people, apart from Labour insiders, PN leader Simon Busuttil said today.

Addressing party supporters during an debate in Mosta, the PN leader said that government’s nepotism, lack of ideas in job creation and an endless list of broken promises, including in the health sector, had not only betrayed the people but also its own electoral mantra ‘Malta for all.’

“This is not an easy campaign for us. Coming 12 months after the general election loss, it’s not all plain sailing given the lack of resources and finances. However, we have a big heart. We will never give up whatever we are faced with. We are authentic and we have a big heart and we sincerely want to serve the people,” Busuttil said.

“We have always toiled for a better Malta and we’ll continue doing so wholeheartedly despite being in opposition,” Busuttil said, adding that following the 2013 electoral loss the PN successfully embarked on a mission to become a “united and effective” opposition.

Entering its second day of campaigning, the PN held an open air debate in the shadow of the imposing Mosta Dome, with former minister and European Commissioner Joe Borg, MP Clyde Puli, pharmacist Denise Ellul and economist Malcolm Bray among the guests who addressed the crowd.

The PN leader reiterated that “after 12 months of a Labour government, Malta deserves better.” Noting Ellul’s comments on the lack of medicines in the health sector, the opposition leader said that government was “distributing medicines according to political allegiances.”

Describing this as “scandalous,” Busuttil said that “government should be ashamed” for not only discriminating against Nationalists but “also discriminating against Labourites who are not Labour insiders.”

In a clear pitch to both traditional Nationalist supporters and disgruntled Labourites, Busuttil said, “in these elections you can send a message to this government, including on this matter. It is unacceptable to have a party who was elected on the promise of ‘Malta for all’ discriminating against anyone who is not part of the Labour core.”    

Busuttil also made a passionate plea to voters who are pondering whether they should vote on 24 May saying “who does not vote would be allowing others to decide for you, if you want to send a message to government, do it directly and go out and vote.”  

Former PN minister and European Commissioner Joe Borg, who signed and sealed Malta’s EU accession in 2004, urged the party’s candidates to “remind the people” of the social, economic and environmental benefits EU membership brought.

Addressing the party faithful, MP Clyde Puli described Labour’s pre-electoral mantra ‘Malta for all’ as the “joke of the year,” insisting that meritocracy was thrown out of the window.

Puli said the Labour administration was running the country as though it was a “family business” with ministers and high-ranking government and party officials engaging their own relatives in a number of government posts.

Economist Malcolm Bray said the trend in unemployment figures was of concern because the country’s productivity was being dented, especially by a growing number of jobs created in the public sector.