‘PN has its backs against the wall, lacks credibility’ – Muscat

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has today lambasted Simon Busuttil and the Opposition, claiming that the PN has its “backs against the wall,” and it “has no idea what it is talking about” when it comes to Malta’s economic performance and energy sector.

Speaking during an interview on One Radio, Muscat – who dedicated most of his time to criticising Busuttil and the PN – insisted that the PN has a “deficit of credibility.”

Defending the miserly 58c increase in the Cost of living allowance (COLA), the prime minister underlined that this is “a compensation” for the increase of cost of living in the previous year.

“Since the cost of living did not increase as much as it did in the past, then the increase will follow suit. It is useless for the Opposition to boast that under PN administration the COLA increase was higher because this effectively means that life was more expensive.”

“It is not an increase but compensation. It is useless for the PN to try and spoon feed the people because it has its backs against the wall. The silent majority know that Malta’s economy is doing well, so it is useless for the PN to try and scaremonger,” Muscat said.

While pledging to “compensate” the 58c increase with Budget measures, Muscat also took issue at Busuttil’s “lack of credibility.”

“Simon Busuttil does not know anything about economics, he only reads a piece of paper. The Opposition is constantly contradicting itself, it first says that Malta’s economy is a disaster, and moments after it says that the economy is doing well because of the previous government.”

“The only bailout that the was needed is that of the PN. Where did the money go? Busuttil should publish the party’s accounts for the past 25 years,” he said.

Moreover, Muscat announced that the budget would include an unprecedented number of incentives for private and public sectors to work together.

“The budget will continue building on what it has already achieved. The measures will further implement its roadmap, and will further confirm that Malta’s economy is doing well,” he said.

On the drug decriminalisation, Muscat insisted that the legal system must reflect the “reality of society,” and should instead be focused on tackling drug traffickers – rather than “victims.”

“As a father I know that these decision will affect my children when they are teenagers. The system should not destroy someone’s life because of a joint,” he said.