Joseph Muscat's Labour government is built on lies and propaganda but, thanks to the media, reality is catching up with it, according to PN Leader Simon Busuttil.

Interviewed by The Malta Independent, The Opposition Leader was reacting to recent developments on the power station after the government admitted a week ago that the project will not be completed on time, putting in doubt the PL's main electoral pledge to reduce energy tariffs.

"The Prime Minister's admission proves that this is a government of lies and deceit. The truth is now coming out. Reality is catching up with the government."

Dr Busuttil said Joseph Muscat entered politics with his lies about the EU. Eighteen months ago he became Prime Minister with the lie that a PL-led government would build an efficient, gas-powered power station within a two-year timeframe.

Noting that the government has so far failed to give the true reason behind the delay, and also failed to state how long the delay will be, Dr Busuttil warns that answers will not come easy. "Do not expect a clear explanation because this government does not believe in transparency. We told them right from the start that the project could not be done in two years. They tried to ridicule us and accused us of being too negative. Now we have been proved right, again."

Power station contracts remain unpublished

Despite accepting a PN demand to debate the power station issue on Monday, the government has ignored a request to publish two contracts related to the power station; the contract signed with ElectroGas and the one signed with Chinese company Shanghai Electric Power. "Earlier this year the government has already passed a law on the power station without publishing the relevant documentation. They wanted us to vote in favour without knowing what we were voting on. A number of months have gone by but these documents remain unpublished. Where is the transparency we were promised?"

 

A complex issue

Dr Busuttil said the power station issue is complex. The government had argued that, to reach its deadline, it had to opt for a massive gas storage tanker in Marsaxlokk bay. "Will they keep insisting on the tanker option now that the deadline has gone up in smoke?"

The PN leader also insisted the government is being forced into accepting unfavourable terms. "They signed a contract binding them to buy electricity from ElectroGas for the next 18 years. Now, contrary to the promises made, it is giving in to the Chinese and promising to buy all electricity that will be produced by the BWSC plant, which is Chinese-owned. We will be producing more energy than we need at a price that could possibly be higher than using the interconnector project. Look at the situation this government is putting the country in."

All pomp, no substance

In September 2013 the government signed an agreement with the Chinese company but, a year down the line that agreement has all but failed, with the Chinese asking for further assurances. This was one of the factors that led to the project delay. Dr Busuttil said the government made many announcements with "pomp and ceremony" over the past 18 months but, at the end of the day they had no substance. "One example is the famous agreement with Libya to buy oil at cheaper rates. The agreement was signed at a time when Libya was in chaos. The other example was the press conference held to announce a two-cent decrease in the price of fuels, when everyone knows that the same government had increased the price by two cents a few days earlier."

The PN leader said we are paying 30 cents more for diesel than in 2010 but prices are the same as they were back then. "The government has reduced energy bills for households but is making money from diesel and petrol sales to account for the shortfall."

On the other hand, he said, the price of petrol and diesel would reflect international pricing under PN administrations, which "ran a fairer system".

 

Doubtful that further tariff reductions are possible

"This is a government of lies and propaganda and the Prime Minister cannot be trusted anymore. The government needs to start giving explanations, including on how it will finance the reduction in energy tariffs for industry. The PL told us in January 2013 that it would be able to reduce energy bills by building a new power station which would save up to €187 million a year. The Prime Minister should tell us how he will be able to finance the reductions since the power station project has not even started. I have strong doubts on whether the government can keep its promise of reducing energy rates for industry."

Asked on the transfer of Enemalta's Petroleum Division to a government-owned company and the news that Air Malta will also sell Selmun Palace to the state, Dr Busuttil said the PL government is, as usual, making "a right mess of things". The government should privatise the division and not buy it. "What does the government need the Petroleum Division for? This is purely a financial manoeuvre that has cost the taxpayer €83 million. And they did not even have the decency to issue a press release. They tried to keep it under wraps. This is symptomatic of the Labour Party."

Muscat and Mizzi should resign

Dr Busuttil said the announcement that the Energy Minister is now mulling the proposal of night tariffs, which was highly ridiculed by the PL when it was proposed by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, is another example of the Prime Minister's lies. "All the PN has to do now is to show people the PL pre-electoral spot and they can make up their own mind on who was lying and who told them the truth."

Both Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi promised to resign if the two-year deadline for the completion of the power station were not met. So should they resign? "Yes, without a doubt. They should. We will now see whether they are men of honour and will keep their word."  

 

 

 

I am not scared of John Dalli's threats

Turning to other matters, the PN leader stuck to his claim of political interference in the John Dalli case. Dr Busuttil's claim had irked the Prime Minister, who filed a complaint with the Parliamentary Privileges Committee, which Dr Busuttil described as being a prejudiced trial. He feels this is why the Prime Minister did not sue him for libel, because "he would have lost" the case in court.

The PN Leader said the testimony given in Parliament this week by Assistant Commissioner Michael Cassar gave more weight to his claim.

"The committee heard that a group of top police officials investigating the case had agreed that there was a case against John Dalli and that he should be charged with trading in influence and bribery. Everything changed when Labour was elected to power and a new police commissioner was appointed. "Who was responsible for changing the Police Commissioner? It was Joseph Muscat. He said so himself, in Parliament."

This week, John Dalli demanded an apology from Simon Busuttil over the comments he had made and threatened to sue him if he refused. "I am not scared of the 'trial' the Prime Minister is putting me through and I am not scared of John Dalli's threats."

Council elections issue proved us right, again

On the subject of local council elections, Dr Busuttil insisted that the PN had been proved right on yet another matter. The government, which was considering cancelling all elections until 2019, "embarked on another U-turn" and said last week that next year's elections would be held. Dr Muscat said a decision had been taken after there was near-total convergence on the issue.

"We are satisfied with that decision, which proved us right, but we have expressed our reservations on what could follow next year's elections. The Prime Minister said that that is yet to be seen. What I can say is that the different PN administrations always sought consensus with the Opposition when introducing laws that affect elections. I sincerely hope that Joseph Muscat does not do away with this principle."

Muscat caught in his own trap

On the issue of autumn trapping, Dr Busuttil said the European Commission's stern warning this week exposed another one of Dr Muscat's lies. "It is interesting that every subject we spoke about in this interview is related to lies by the Prime Minister and the way he has become a prisoner of his own lies."

Even on trapping, the government has made a promise it could not possibly deliver. "Joseph Muscat promised to allow the trapping of songbirds when he is fully aware that this is against European law. The Prime Minster is caught in a trap he has created himself."

Videos and photos Matthew Agius