‘Not voting will only serve to benefit the PN’ – Muscat

A week away from the European elections, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has argued that an abstention would only serve to benefit the Opposition.

Recent MaltaToday surveys have showed that there is higher rate of indecision among Labour voters. But in an effort to angle the undecided Labour voters, Muscat insisted that Simon Busuttil and the Nationalist Party are a “good enough reason for the electorate to bring the vote to the Labour Party.”

“The only reason to vote is Simon Busuttil. Do you want to tell Simon Busuttil that he is right? By not voting, you would be conveying the message that Opposition is right, and that even though the PN hurt you in the past, it still supporting warrants your support,” Muscat said.

Addressing a political rally in Sannat, Muscat argued that the government should be judged on merit and on its “achievements” during its first year – namely the reductions in energy tariffs, fuel prices, income tax, the introduction of free childcare, and the minimum wage top-up.

“The Labour party will rewrite history again because it will be the first governing party to gain the majority of votes in the European elections,” Muscat said.

Rallying the Labour faithful, Muscat underlined that if the PN were elected; energy tariffs would have increased by 30%.

“On the contrary,” the Labour leader rallied, “a year into the government’s legislature, it has not only decreased the energy bills, but furthermore, these will be enjoyed during the rest of the legislature.”

Hitting out at Simon Busuttil and the Nationalist Party, Muscat pinpointed the PN’s criticism of the reduction in fuel prices as the watershed moment that highlighted the “difference” between the parties and the PN’s “true colours.”

Earlier this month, the government announced that it had struck a deal to reduce of petrol by 2c and a fuel price of lock-in of diesel. The government’s “big news” was however met with particular by the PN stable who dubbed the revision of fuel prices as a “shunt” and a moment that highlighted the government’s “deceit.”

“Unlike others, the government is not detached from reality, while conversely, the PN is not understanding those who struggle to stay afloat every month and those pensioners who struggle with a €500 every month.”

In a clear jibe at Simon Busuttil, Muscat claimed that “the PN should try to understand these people, not those who gained €1.5 million in contracts.”

Taking a swipe at the PN, Muscat underlined that the PN does not have an idea what it would do if it were in government, claiming that its message is only interested in creating jealousy and hatred.

Admitting that the government had made mistakes in the first year, Muscat insisted that if one were to analyse all of the government’s “accomplishments,” the majority of its measures have been successful.

On his part, parliamentary secretary Roderick Galdes insisted that the even though the government inherited a “disastrous” situation within the farming sector, it hit the ground running and this is reaping benefits in increased production of produce.

Disputing claims that he was held “hostage” by hunters, Galdes claimed that the government would work in the best interests of the hunters and poachers, underlining that the government will “not forget” the poachers.