‘Government’s rampant discrimination creating a new class of citizens’ – Busuttil

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has accused the government of discriminating against those who are not part of Labour’s core, insisting that even Labourites are getting the short end of the stick, irrespective of their political allegiance.

“If there were discrimination between Nationalists and Labourites, one could perhaps understand, but under the Labour government, there is rampant discrimination against anyone who is not part of Labour’s inner circle.”

“This discrimination has created a new class of people and a new category of citizenship: the Labour core. Anyone else, whether a PN or Labour supporter, is treated as a second class citizen,” Busuttil said.

Addressing a political rally in Qormi, the PN leader argued that this ‘rampant’ discrimination is highlighted in the distribution of medicines, claiming that die-hard Labourites are picking up their medicines from Labour clubs.

The PN leader had previously alleged that individuals close to Labour’s core were receiving a “call from the ministry” informing them when and from where to pick up the medicines they are entitled to. The PN media also claimed that Labour MP was “personally distributing” medicines at the PL clubs – a report denied by the MP.

In the wake of the political favouritism allegations, the health ministry underlined that there are no discriminatory practices, and further explained that an internal investigation had not flagged any political discrimination.

However, notwithstanding the health ministry’s rebuttal, the PN leader reiterated his “discrimination” claims, claiming that this is the epitome of social injustice. In addition, he claimed that this was casting a dark shadow on the integrity of the health sector as all those who were not being served were questioning whether this was because of their political allegiance.

In a dig at Joseph Muscat’s call for the “soldiers of steel” to bring out the vote, the PN leader argued that these were being betrayed by the government, whereas on the other hand, the soldiers close to the party, were awarded promotions.

Echoing Jean Claude Juncker – the EPP candidate for the President of the European Commission – Busuttil warned the government over Malta’s “soaring” unemployment rates.

Juncker, who this week was hosted by Simon Busutil, claimed that even though Malta’s unemployment rates are relatively low when compared with the EU average, the government should nevertheless address the issue, claiming that if these figures were to reach 7.5%, there would be “no going back”.

Eurostat statistics have revealed that Malta’s unemployment rates in March 2014 stood at 6.8%, a 0.4% increase when compared with the corresponding month in 2013. However, unemployment decreased by 0.1% when compared with February 2014, while the Eurozone’s unemployment average stands at 11.8%.

On his part, Busuttil, whose PN clan has been vocal in its criticism at Labour’s “failed roadmap,” claimed that the government is not admitting the problem of unemployment, instead opting to ignore it.

Trading blows with the prime minister, and energy minister Konrad Mizzi, Busuttil also took umbrage at the government’s fuel price revision.

On Wednesday, the government announced that it had struck a deal to reduce the price of petrol by 2c to €1.44 and the price of the 12kg LPG cylinders to €17.10, down by €1.30. In addition, it also announced that the price of petrol and diesel would remain locked until the end of the year.

The PN argued that the government’s self-declared “big news” was nothing short of a “stunt” and that it highlighted the “deceit” of the government because it had increased by 2c in the first place.

“The prime minister’s announcement further highlights the deceit and immaturity of the government. While the Prime Minister is expecting the country to congratulate him and Konrad Mizzi on reducing the petrol prices, Konrad Mizzi’s wife is earning €13,000 a month,” Busuttil said.

Moreover, the PN leader claimed that the reduction in fuel prices is watershed moment in distinguishing between the parties’ politics. While Joseph Muscat claimed that it proves that the PN is “detached from reality” and that it needs a “reality check,” the PN leader claimed that under the Labour government, Malta’s political vision is limited to reducing fuel by 2c.

Meanwhile, in a clear attempt to angle voters, Busuttil called on the electorate to the use the upcoming election as a platform to send the government a message: “that the country would no longer for a ride and steamrolled.

While conceding that it is “impossible” for the PN to offset its 36,000-vote discrepancy, Busuttil insisted that the PN will “never give up.”