Updated | PN hits out at Labour’s ‘arrogance’ over support for Golden Rule amendment

The Nationalist part has hit out at Labour for "arrogantly" taking credit of the Opposition's support of a constitutional amendment that will enshrine balanced budgets in the highest law of land.

The PN was referring to a statement by PL deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Anglu Farrugia, who this morning said Labour would support the Golden Rule amendment which needs a two-thirds majority in the House.

The PN's reaction was short of approving: "Labour thinks it is making some favour to government and the country. Joseph Muscat was obliged to give its support to government in such an important issue for our country and families," PN information director Frank Psaila said.

"Muscat does not even think that putting the national interest first does not invite a pat on the back, but that's because he views politics as 'the seat of power' he covets," Psaila said.

The PN said the uncertainty Muscat talked about was coming from people's questions over his policies on work, health, education, tourism, environment, taxation and social policy. "Muscat is refusing to concretely say what his policies are if elected to power... uncertainty is created by those who see power as more important that investment and employment; when Muscat and Farrugia lose a vote in parliament and insist they have won it," Psaila said with reference to the no-confidence vote the government defeated through the Speaker's casting vote.

Anglu Farrugia this morning said the PL will put the national interest first in its support of a constitutional amendment that makes it incumbent upon governments to plan balanced budgets.

"Without our clear commitment, the Prime Minister could not assure anybody of this change," Farrugia said of the constitutional amendment, which requires a two-thirds majority in the House, and the de facto support of Labour MPs.

"Gonzi is not even in a position to ensure a majority from his own backbench," Farrugia said, in a reference to the abstention of Nationalist MP Franco Debono during a vote of no-confidence moved by Labour.

"We could have embarrassed GonziPN by doing otherwise, but we feel it was in the national interest that in these times of political crisis we look towards the country's interest first. The GonziPN system has to recognise this reality and go for election to quell the uncertainty created by his grip to the seat of power," Farrugia said.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday evening submitted a Bill to amend the Maltese Constitution that will enshrined the so-called "golden rule", new fiscal rule which says national budgets must be balanced and the annual structural deficit does not exceed 0.5% of nominal GDP.

Gonzi added that Parliament should also ratify the European Union Act to include the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) as soon as possible.