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UPDATED | Muscat 'worried' by government's reaction to recession
Labour leader Joseph Muscat says the government's reaction to news that Malta is officially in recession is 'worrying'.
10 June 2012, 12:00am
Jurgen Balzan
Jurgen Balzan
3 min read
Adds Nationalist Party's statement at 10:56am
Labour leader Joseph Muscat has brandished the government's reaction to the news that Malta is officially in recession as "worrying."
The Opposition leader is currently in the United Arab Emirates where he met the Maltese community based in the middle-eastern country. The community expressed satisfaction that Muscat found the time to meet them during his short visit.
While in the UAE, Muscat visited Jebel Ali Free Zone, Palm Island, Dubai Internatinal Financial Centre and the seven-star hotel Bourj Al Arab.
Today, he will meet Tecom officials in Dubai Internet City. Tecom have investments in Maltese companies Go and Smart City.
Muscat is accompanied by MP Michael Farrugia and MEP Joseph Cuschieri.
Speaking this morning during a telephone interview from Dubai, Muscat said the government should concentrate on resolving the country's economic problems and not internal party squabbles.
Muscat explained that following the news that Malta is in a recession he expected a realistic reaction from the government but instead the Finance Minister Tonio Fenech blamed everyone except himself for the precarious situation.
He stressed that unlike the government, the Labour Party has proposed a number of ideas which would foster economic growth.
"The economy is not producing enough wealth and this is not being distributed in a just way.”
Muscat said he takes no joy from the news that Malta is in recession which was created by a government which is not fit to manage the economy efficiently. “A new Labour government will have the necessary resources to address the problem.”
He added that Tonio Fenech blamed the problem on the international situation when the economy’s mismanagement is nobody’s fault but government’s.
Muscat noted that Fenech also blamed the situation on government’s decision to absorb the growing energy costs and reiterated Labour’s pledge to reduce utility bills.
In reaction to Muscat's intervention this morning, the Nationalist Party said the Opposition leader is only offering partisan rhetoric and making empty promises instead of putting forward credible proposals.
"Muscat should respect Maltese workers and families and come up with concrete solutions regarding employment, health and education instead of creating instability," the PN statement read.
"These last 4 years, the government, without the help of the Opposition who was busy creating obstacles, created more than 20,000 jobs, safeguarded 5,000 places of work while Malta has the second lowest rate of unemployment in the European Union."
The Nationalist Party statement added that all this was not achieved by coincidence, but thanks to responsible politics by the government and the hard work of the Maltese people.
"The international situation is not an easy one and Malta is exposed to the crisis but as we have overcome other challenges during the last four years, we will overcome this situation because Malta has a prosperous future ahead of it."
Citing the Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Richard Cachia Caruana motions, the PN noted that "it is a real pity that Muscat insists on being opportunistic by wasting precious time with not less than six motions presented in parliament in less than four years, in an attempt to create instability."
"Muscat is only interested in himself," the statement said.
Jurgen Balzan was a MaltaToday reported from 2011 to 2017.
Luke Camilleri •
Now that's a cause to worry ...and not how will Franco Debono will vote on the next motion!
That is what you get when you have a Prime Minister more focussed on Party Matters than running the country!
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Toqghodx ittelfu Dr Muscat please, ghax il-gvern ta' Gonzi ghaddej gas down...ghal-isfel. Nahseb li se jipprovaw iwahhlu f'Muscat minhabba r-ricessjoni ghax ghad ittelifhom b'dawk il-mozzjonijiet li ghamel fil-Parlament. Lil Franco Debono ma jsemmuhx imma tafx ghax dak malajr jizber u jerga jkollu jibda jlaqqa l-kunsill tal-Pn u jerga jkollu jaghmel elezzjoni iebsa hafna ghal kap tal-partit u lqaqqa l-grupp parlamentari (bicca minnhom insomma). Imma dak mhux telf ta hin, dak bzonnjuz biex jibqa imkahhal mas-siggu.
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Veru li ghandna Gvern bla zejt f’wiccu. Il-fallimenti huma tort ta kulhadd, tal-oppozizzjoni u l-poplu Malti, imma huma li suppost qeghdin imexxu ma ghandhom tort f’xejn. Kultant naqbel mal-Partit Nazzjonalista li jwwahhal fil-Poplu Malti ghaliex il-Poplu Malti telghu fejn qieghed, pero il-Gvern u il-Partit Nazzjonalista imisshom indunaw li ma ghadx ghandhom il-maggoranza tal-poplu warrajhom u ghandhom ikunu irgiel u iwarbu, u jaghmlu bhal ma kien ghamel Mintoff.
Min jinterresah fih innifu? Muscat jew Gonzi? Aktar nahseb li huwa Gonzi ghaliex minn wara dar il-poplu ha €500 fil-gimgha u imnalla kien Muscat li kixef dan l-abbuz fost abbuzi ohra.
Id-deficit, dejn, awsterita u ir-recessjoni huma ukoll tort ta Muscat? Eddie Fenech Adami kien jghid li l-flus mhux problema ghaliex kien jaf li Mintoff sejjer ihalli fil-kaxxa ta Malta MILJUNI KBAR f’diversi tipi ta fondi. Huma x’ghamlu mhux talli nefqu u bieghu kollox imma nefqu ukoll dak li inridu naqilu fil-mitt sena li gejjin.
Il-Knisja u il-Partit Laburista talbu mahfra lil-Poplu ta Malta u Ghawdex, imma dawn li jahsbu li d-dinja ma tdurx jekk ma ikunx hemm huma, QATT ma ghadhom talbu xi forma ta’ mahfra u lanqas biss jaslu biex jammettu li ghamlu xi forma ta zball ghad-detriment tal Poplu Kollu.
Dawn jafu li jekk sejrin jitolbu mahfra il-poplu mhux sejjer jahfrilhom, ghaliex ghamlu wisq hnizrijiet u tefu lil-poplu f’bahar imqalleb mhux ftit, fosthom il-faqar li 83,000 persuna jinsabu fih. L-istorja tirrepeti ruha u gejna mitfughin fis-snin sittin minn dak li qeghdin isejhulu “World Leader” u ta qablu li kien jahseb li kien mibghut minn Alla biex jehlisna mill-gid li konna qeghdin ingawdu. Insew dawn x’kienu jaghmlu. Insew kemm ferhu u iccelebraw meta f’ Malta ma instabx iz-zejt?
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"Muscat is only interested in himself," the statement said.
So one must ask... when the PM and his cabinet approved a 500 euros a week raise...who were they thinking about? The hard working Maltese people?
It is disgraceful and disheartening that this administration continues to treat the electorate as morons by trying to manipulate the facts and remains convinced that the Maltese people are too stupid to recognise their propaganda.
Shame on you if you fool me once; but shame on me if you fool me twice.
As it is about time that the Maltese people realise the true situation on this island.
Someone ought to pay attention and compare the 16 years of labour administrations and the last 16 years with regards government direct orders, murders, police enforcement, corruption, national debt, immigration, drug abuse, pocerty, state entities, health care and social services
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20,000 jobs and saved 5,000 the joke of the century.
Cannot stop laughing my head off. If aviation was made out of bullshit Dr. Lawrence GonziPn & Co would go over the moon. Show us the true figures and specified and I will be the first vote PN if they are factual.
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20,000 jobs and safed 5,000 the joke of the century.
Cannot stop laughing my head off. If aviation was made out of bullshit Dr. Lawrence GonziPn & Co would go over the moon. Show us rge true figures and and specified and I will be the first vote PN if they are factual.
