‘Muscat insulting people’s intelligence’ - Busuttil

Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil has lambasted the government for “deceiving” the electorate, insisting that Labour’s first year in government has been littered with failed electoral pledges and discriminatory behaviour.

Addressing a PN rally at Paola, the third in as many days, Busuttil accused the government of funding the Labour Party’s electoral campaign.

“The Labour Party’s campaign is being funded by the taxpayer. The same billboards which during this year have been used by the government, are now being used by the Labour Party,” he said.

While explaining that the PN’s funds are a shadow when compared with the Labour Party’s, Busuttil argued that nevertheless, the government’s shortcomings during its first year would urge the electorate to show it the “yellow card”, and that it will no longer be taken for a ride.

Busuttil also took umbrage at the “contradictory” deficit figures, which according to Eurostat statistics show that the government decreased its deficit to €203 million. On the other hand, debt increased by €373 million.

Flagging the discrepancy between the government’s debt and its deficit, the Opposition leader, accused Joseph Muscat of “distorting the truth” and of deceiving the country.

“The government is not explaining where this additional money went, but rather than divulging the truth, it is instead saying that it has managed to decrease the country’s deficit while also managing to reduce energy tariffs and return the VAT paid on car registration.”

“The devil is in the detail. Further scrutiny reveals that these deficit figures refer to 2013, while conversely, the reduction in energy tariffs and the VAT return will only be taken into account in 2014 – the next financial year,” Busuttil said.

Furthermore, the PN leader explained that a year into its legislature, the government racked up €373 million –
“almost half of the €800 million debt that Enemalta racked up during 25 years under previous Nationalist governments.”

This, Busuttil said, screams of hypocrisy as back when it was in opposition, the Labour Party had lobbied against Enemalta for its debt.

Reiterating his call for voters to caution the government by giving it a “yellow card”, Busuttil admitted that despite making significant inroads since its catastrophic loss in March 2013, the PN is facing an uphill task to secure the majority of the voters.

“The PN faces a very difficult, if not impossible, task to manage to garner the majority of the votes and to offset its 36,000 votes,” Busuttil acknowledged.

Nevertheless, the PN leader insisted that the elections are the perfect platform for the country to show the government that it has not delivered on its pledges, and that Malta will no longer be taken for a ride by unfulfilled promises.

‘A government that deceives the electorate and awards its inner-circles’ - Busuttil

Turning his attention on the government’s “unfulfilled” electoral battle cries of meritocracy and transparency, Busuttil argued these were a stark reminder that the government used the electorate solely to win the election.  

“Joseph Muscat’s government has deceived the electorate – even those staunch Labour supporters. They were promised meritocracy and transparency, but so far the results show a distant reality. Instead of creating employment opportunities for all of the country, irrespective of one’s political partisanship, only the Labour Party’s inner circles have been awarded jobs,” he said.

Busuttil also reiterated his claim of political favouritism in the Pharmacy of Your Scheme, arguing that individuals close to the government were “receiving a call from the ministry” informing them when and from where to pick up the medicines they are entitled to.

On Wednesday, Busuttil was asked to substantiate his allegations, to which he replied that the information had been disclosed by a pharmacist – the same pharmacist who spoke during a party political activity the day before.  

“All those who vested their trust in the Labour Party have been taken for a ride, as in its first year, the government has only managed to increase unemployment to 8,000 and awarded its inner circles. This shows the true colours of the government: one that uses you for your vote and then deceives you by promising you unfulfilled promises,” he said.

Turning his attention to the “soaring” youth unemployment rates, Busuttil said the PN sought to offset these figures by cooperating, but instead, its calls for synergy fell on deaf ears and were blatantly turned down.

“In the run up to the election, Joseph Muscat promised that if elected, a Labour government would guarantee youths work. 13 months down the line, unemployment has increased by 1,000 and job opportunities are more limited than ever,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ann Fenech, the president of the Nationalist Party’s executive, accused the government of “disrespecting” the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM).

“The situation at AFM is disgusting and absurd. It is massive disrespect for the government to leapfrog a major to a commander. Prior to the election, Joseph Muscat had reassured the country that job posts would be filled on merit and by someone qualified and capable, and not by Labourites,” she said.

While admitting that Labour’s general election campaign was “convincing and very powerful,” Fenech echoed Bususttil’s criticism in saying that those who voted for the Labour Party – including Labourites – had realised that they had been deceived.

“When analysing the government’s performance, it is apparent that barring Labour’s inner circles, the country has been taken for a ride.”

On his part, NET TV presenter Frank Psaila, who formed part of the panel, argued that it would be unjust to judge Simon Busuttil’s role as leader on the results of the forthcoming European elections.

While conceding that the government is not expected to implement its electoral manifesto, Psaila, argued that by Joseph Muscat’s yardstick of judging the government on its first year performance, the Labour Party’s tenure in government has seen the country plummet and littered with shortcomings.

 “Prior to the March general election, Muscat flew a white flag and promised everything, but now it is a different story, as the only people who are benefitting from Labour’s first year are its inner circles,” Psaila said.