Nationalists take on Muscat over silence on electoral manifesto

Justice minister Chris Said and environment and tourism minister Mario de Marco have taken Opposition leader Joseph Muscat to task over his closely guarded policies, saying the Labour leader had to explain his pledges better.

In unveiling their new billboard - 'Muscat has nothing to offer' (Muscat ma jghid xejn) - Muscat is featured covering his mouth.

"The main message is that Muscat is saying nothing about how he will create jobs, improve education, and improve health services," de Marco said.

"Everybody agrees on the importance of education, health and economic growth. The question is how can this be achieved. Everybody expects political parties to provide an answer to this, and we are asking Muscat what are his policies. The people have a right to know Labour's policies," the tourism minister added.

"For Muscat, empty policies are better than explaining how we will bring about a reduction in energy bills. He says that the solution is to go for gas, but the Nationalist government is already working on the conversion to gas and a pipeline.

"Muscat must tell us how will reduce the price of energy. He is going to need infrastructure and EU funds, and this takes years to achieve. Will he reduce social benefits and increase taxes to get money to convert the power station to gas?"

On his part, Chris Said said the PN had obtained positive results in work, education and health. "It is very easy for Muscat to criticise everything without telling people what he is going to do. He just leaves people in the dark so that once he is in government he can do what he wants with ministers that have served under Mintoff and Alfred Sant."

The justice minister stressed that people know where they stand with the PN and the successes achieved by Nationalist administrations are down to clear and sound policies.

"On the other hand, Muscat has not even given us one idea on how he intends to improve health services or increase educational opportunities," Said added.

He underlined Labour's negativity and said: "Unfortunately Muscat chooses to be negative without proposing new ideas."

De Marco added: "Silence is golden, however in politics you only remain silent if you have no polices or if your policies create fear."

Asked whether the government still enjoys a parliamentary majority, de Marco said the Nationalist administration enjoys the support of the majority of the House thanks to the coalition it has with former Nationalist MP. Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

Pressed to give a clear answer whether the government still has a majority, de Marco said: "There is no indication that we have lost the majority. Otherwise the President of the Republic or the Speaker would have taken some kind of action."