“The financial situation in our country is strong due to the fact that government had executed a number of good decisions that resulted in further job creation, alongside the strengthening of our health and education system.”

The Finance Ministry was replying to Opposition leader Dr Joseph Muscat’s comments that the opposition must be given credit because despite government having failed to go through with its plans to implement the 2013 Budget, international credit rating agencies kept Malta’s rating stable and positive.

Dr Muscat was speaking during a political activity in Rabat this morning, the first since the Budget vote was taken and which saw the Budget defeated in parliament.

The ministry added that all Dr Muscat had to do is look up the rest of Fitch agency’s statement, where it explains that “this year, Fitch has confirmed ‘Malta’s rating as one that is stable’, due to the fact that the country’s economy and its finances were found to be strong”, adding that “every time government bonds are issued, investors’ response was always strong”.