‘Government delivered on its electoral pledges’ – Muscat

A year into the Labour party's tenure in government, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has insisted that the government delivered on its electoral pledges of meritocracy, accountability and transparency.

The government's electoral battle cries have been heavily criticised by the Nationalist Party which is underlining that the government did not deliver on its promise and is instead treating Labourites and the "inner circles" to a piece of the state's coffers.

However, Muscat underlined that the government fulfilled its promises and that "greater energy" has become the most synonymous trait of Malta's administration.

"The government delivered on its pledge to reduce energy tariffs, it delivered on its pledge to increase transparency by implementing the whistleblowers' act and by removing the prescription on political corruption," Muscat said.

Speaking at a party even at Palace Square in Valletta this morning, Muscat said the results are evident and those who had championed for a labour victory in March 2013 are satisfied and certain that they made the right choice.

Dubbing the government as the most "energetic" in the country's political history, Muscat detailed all the government's "achievements" and insisted that this is just the start.

"The government's fulfilled electoral pledges are the legacy of the Labour Party. It reduced income tax rates, it stabilised fuel prices, it reduced energy tariffs and incentives were given to first property buyers," Muscat said.

He also said that the white paper on party financing would be implemented in the coming months. Part of Labour's manifesto, the white paper envisages the regulation of a political party's accounts, its donations and the internal structures of political parties.

Lamenting the "inherited" situation from the previous Nationalist administration, Muscat insisted that the government addressed the shortcomings, and what the PN had not managed to do in 25 years, it has done in the space of 12 months.

"Simon Busuttil had claimed that under a Labour government Malta would need a bailout to stay afloat. But, not only did the country weather the financial shortcomings but economic growth and job creation have reached unforeseen levels - figures confirmed by the European Union," Muscat said.

In addition, Muscat also argued that the discrepancy between the government's expenditure and its revenue has now decreased.

The prime minister also claimed that the previous government had envisaged the introduction of a tax on the generated tax of every household, but amid a rapturous applause by the party faithful, he stressed that this tax would not be implemented under a Labour government.

"In the run up to the election, the Nationalist Party had said that a Labour government would remove the stipends' but not only did the government not remove the stipends, but conversely, it increased them and will continue to increase them annually," Muscat stressed.

Turning his attention on Marie Louise Coleiro Preca's nomination as president, Muscat insisted that it was an honour for him to be the first Labour prime minister to nominate a president in 32 years.

"Back in 1982, [former Labour prime minister] Dom Mintoff had nominated Agatha Barbara as Malta's first female president, and now 32 years later, it is an honour for me to follow Mintoff and nominate Marie Louise Coleiro Preca as the next president of Malta - a choice which will undoubtedly unite the country," Muscat underlined.

He also hit out at the previous Nationalist administrations for not nominating a woman for the role of president.  

The prime minister also vehemently defended the government's plans to permanently anchor an LNG storage vessel at Marsaxlokk and insisted that the PN's criticism was unheard of when the Nationalist Party had decided to build a power station in Birzebbugia.

Insisting that the new LNG terminal is not harmful and that it would result in less emissions, he argued that the PN's scaremongering is unfounded.

"Labour's energy plan and the LNG terminal will lead to cleaner air and more importantly, it will replace the silent killers which others [the PN] had allowed in the south of Malta. Where was the PN when children were left breathing that concoction of harmful emissions?" Muscat said while insisting that the project would halve carbon dioxide emissions and lead to cleaner air.

The PL Leader also explained that the government gave a true meaning to equality.

"The government's pledge to deliver on greater equality has been highlighted by less discrimination and the most liberal statements of all - the Civil Unions Bill. This will be implemented in the coming days," Muscat claimed.

While pointing out that there are 22,000 Maltese children suffering from poverty or social exclusion, Muscat recounted how €400 was being given to these children.

The prime minister explained that in an effort to deter children and parents alike from using the money unwisely, the government linked this supplement to a number of conditions - amongst which include school attendance and regular medical check-ups.

"The government is striving to alleviate poverty but notwithstanding this, we have to safeguard the future generations. Consequently, if funds are not used for the child's benefit these would be withheld and the children would be able to use them when they grow up," he explained.