Joseph Muscat says 2013 election cannot be taken for granted: 'we need to convince others'

Acknowledging that after 20 years of Nationalist government the electorate might once again vote for the same government, Muscat calls on to his supporters to “open the doors for the Labour party.”

“We must not take this election for granted. Your families, your relatives, your neighbours, your colleagues, they are all fed up of this government but are not convinced of our party. Talk to them and show them whey our country needs a fresh start,” urged Muscat.

Asked by a journalist about why should the electorate vote for the Labour Party, Muscat was quick to reply that “afterwards, it would be useless to complain”.

“By voting for Gonzi you are voting for another five years of BWSC, another five years of water and electricity bills, and another five years of a government promising one thing and doing another,” Muscat insisted. “In reality this government is slowly dissolving and his sole interest is in his close circle of friends.”

Referring to the case revealed by MaltaToday, where a former aide to Finance Minister Tonio Fenech was questioned by police over donations from Montebello brothers, Muscat said that in a “normal country” a press conference would have been called in the second it happens.

“In a normal country, such a declaration would ask of the immediate resignation of the Minister in question. [Noel]Borg-Hadley admitted of taking the money and nothing is being done about it,” Muscat said, adding that this is another case of two weights, two measures. “When it came to John Dalli he had to resign, but in Fenech’s case the Prime Minister is defending him.”   

Air Malta talks

Feeling satisfied with last Monday’s steering committee to discuss the future of Air Malta, the Oppostion Leader said this critical situation has been long coming.

“I’m extremely satisfied with the delegation we had and how the committee went. However, my aim is not to find a solution from now till the next election. I want a long-term plan of at least 10 years which guarantees the safe future of Air Malta.”

“Air Malta is today suffering of problems which have been existing for at least these 10 years. The RJs contract and the Azzure Airlines had between them cost €150 million,” Muscat said. “There were a series of bad decisions which have brought Air Malta down to its knees.”

He reminded of the time when Air Malta was in the hands of the former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff. “Even though during its first year the airline suffered some losses, with Mintoff’s determination the airline started to register growing profits every year. Air Malta had never asked for any state aid and the government had never subsidised it.”

Muscat said that in fact it was more likely that Air Malta was subsidising government by paying taxes and selling off its properties.

“Air Malta was then the real ‘pride of Malta’,” Muscat said, an obvious pun referring to the Easyjet Airbus rolled out of the maintenance facility of the SR Technics at Luqa which was christened Pride of Malta.

 Public transport reform

During his speech, Muscat said that he agrees that Malta needed a reform in its public transport sector. However he hopes that as the reform promises, “the public transport will offer a punctual service, will be efficient and affordable for it to succeed.”

“Government must make it affordable for the user for it to be a success. Increasing costs in private cars to force people to resort to the public transport is not a sustainable move.”

Muscat said that Malta still had to wait and see how the tariff system works.

Referring to the European Union’s decision to question the bus’ tariffs 24 hours after they were announced, Muscat said “I hope this in not a government’s game to announce low tariffs but then increasing them blaming the EU for his decision.”

“We cannot be in a position where the EU questions tariffs of a system which is to be implemented in just six months,” Muscat reiterated.

Muscat also talled about the park and ride and CVA issue. “When the Park and Ride was first introduced, Austin Gatt had promised us it would be free of charge, susbsidised by the money collected through the CVA. But now we are in a situation where the Transport himself is questioning whether the CVA is too cheap.”

Muscat said that if the Park and Ride will come to cost at €10 per week, someone who works in Valletta will have to pay at least €400 per year.

Maternity leave extension

Muscat once again acknowledged that the maternity leave burden should not be shouldered only by employers alone “but should be spread across the board.”

“Those who argue against maternity leave have the same conservative reasoning of those who were against the minimum wage, pensions, sick leave and more,” Muscat said. “But if the maternity leave is implemented in a wise way, it will prove to be competitive.”

Citing figures from Labour MEP Edward Scicluna’s study, Muscat said that implementing the extension would mean a 9% increase in female participation in the workforce. “I believe that if the €5 million is spread out across the board, the maternity leave cost will not be felt. Government should also carry the burden and not leave the private sector on its own.”

Muscat said this is an issue which will show and prove what government’s true priorities are.

“He is paying €80,000 a year Ministers at a time where he is asking citizens to make sacrifices. He is investing in education, where the majority of the graduates are women, but then he is not incentivising women to work.”