Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that the difference between the Labour Party in government and the PN is that the PL sought ways to increase spending power by reducing the energy tariffs whereas under a PN administration certain individuals received commissions, referring to the Enemalta oil procurement scandal.

Addressing supporters in Rabat, Dr Muscat said that measures implemented by a PL government, including free childcare and the reduction in energy tariffs, do not mean anything to individuals who receive millions in direct orders.

Turning to the leader of the Opposition, he said that Dr Busuttil spent the whole of the MEP election campaign proposing to the electorate to give me a yellow card, challenging Dr Busuttil “to bring it on”, likening the challenge to a football match.

“Do I have to feel ashamed because I introduced free childcare, reduced the energy tariffs, created more incentives?” he asked.

“Why should I hold back from challenging Dr Busuttil,” he said.

“Now that I have challenged Dr Busuttil, he is most likely to leave me waiting alone in the football ground,” he said, joking that Dr Busuttil may still be inside his shell.

This is a government which works as hard as the people who elected it to office,” he said.

Dr Muscat said that one gains respect when one works hard in the interest of others, pointing out that when a political party isolates itself from the people, it will never understand a person’s needs.

Prior to Dr Muscat’s speech, Dr Sant said that he had come across individuals who stated that they will not be voting “as these elections are not as important, or because they did not get what they wanted, like a development permit for instance”.

He said that one had to look at whether such statements are justifiable.

“These elections are important, since we are not realising what powers we gave the EU when we joined,” he said, adding that there are decisions being taken in Brussels which are affecting us directly.

“It is true that we have a small representation there, but if Malta has a voice, this tool should be utilised,” he said.

Dr Sant said that one could not expect miracles from a PL government in a matter of a year, especially after twenty five years engulfed with injustices under a PN administration.

He lauded Dr Muscat for having acknowledged making certain mistakes and correcting them.

Dr Sant claimed that the PL in government is the party which works for the future of youths.

“If one were to compare the PN’s record with that of the PL, the PL emerges with the best certificate in terms of being the party which truly represents the worker.

“All I have heard is negativity from the Nationalist Party’s end; all it has been interested all along is in winning elections to help out individuals who form part of its inner circles only.

“The PL in government has entered its second year; expect relentless ferocious attacks from the PN; they will do anything to create obstacles,” he said.

MEP candidate Marlene Mizzi said that PN leader Simon Busuttil is incapable of taking a decision, just like he did when it came to the Civil Union Bill, asking whether one can vote for PN MEPs whose leader cannot take a decision.