‘Government implemented 30% of electoral pledges’ – Louis Grech

Marking the government’s first year in government, Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech this evening said that the Labour government implemented 30% of its electoral manifesto and a third of the budgetary measures.

Echoing Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Grech, who amongst his responsibilities is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the government’s electoral manifesto, underlined that the government delivered on its most fundamental pledge: that of reducing energy tariffs.

“In spite of the PN’s criticism and derision of the government’s measures, the government delivered on its pledge to reduce energy tariffs, it reduced tax and also offset the country’s deficit,” he said.

“The PN had vehemently claimed that the government would not deliver on its pledge to decrease the deficit but not only did it weather the excessive deficit procedure, but moreover, the government did offset the discrepancy between Malta’s revenue and expenditure,” Grech argued.

Flanked by parliamentary secretary Ian Borg at this evening’s public consultation meeting, the deputy prime minister conceded that the government committed several mistakes in its first year, but nevertheless lamented the previous “inherited” shortcomings for the government’s stumbling blocks.

Taking a swipe at the PN, Grech explained that the government does not have a "big ego or small ears, but conversely, it will listen to the people and strive to complete its electoral pledges."

On Sunday – a day from the government’s one-year anniversary - Joseph Muscat insisted that the government delivered on its electoral pledges, most notably its battle cries of meritocracy and accountability. Muscat’s claims were however derided by the Nationalist Party who has continued to insist that only the “inner circles” benefitted from the Labour government.

On his part, Louis Grech, explained that 54 measures of the government’s manifesto, amongst which include the Whisteblowers’ Act and the removal of the prescription on political corruption, have been fully implemented while 40 other measures - most notably the Civil Unions Bill - are close to completion.

The measures pertaining to increases in children’s allowance and free childcare centres and 68 other measures are half complete.

“In addition,” Grech said, “a third of the budgetary measures have been implemented - a clear example proving that the government is implementing its proposed ‘roadmap’.”

Part of the Gvern li Jisma’ campaign, the government’s public consultation meetings are designed to engage the general public with the government, but as opposed to previous meetings, this evening’s meeting was characterised by Grech explaining the government’s measures while questions were few and far between.

Perhaps deterred by the technicalities being discussed, attendees shied away from asking questions or levelling criticisms – a stark contrast from previous meetings, which saw hundreds of people vying to voice their questions to the respective ministers.  

On his part, parliamentary secretary for EU funds Ian Borg, explained how Malta risked losing up to 200 million in EU funds.

“The political decisions of the previous PN government did not yield any fruit and the inherited bureaucracy levels hindered the government’s operations. On the other hand, this government has not lost a cent and has safeguarded EU funds – all to the benefit of the people,” Borg argued.

He also welcomed the news that the European Parliament confirmed Malta’s financial package for the forthcoming seven years and claimed that this has actually increased by 10 million when compared with the package obtained by the PN government in February.