The way the Government treats the Opposition has always been shameful, PN Leader Simon Busuttil said, ever since Labour were in government, but now that people can actually see what is going on thanks to the new Parliament channel on television, people in their thousands are seeing how this government treats the Opposition. Dr Busuttil was being interviewed on Radio 101.
This was one of the biggest culture shocks for him since he was used to the way the European Parliament is run.
If a Member asks a question not to the government's liking, there will be a chorus of shouting, insults, name-calling and threats.
In the past week, Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg used very un-Parliamentary and vulgar language, in the most matter-of-fact way, as if he is used to speaking like that.
On just one question, last week too, raised by him, a full 30 minutes were spent, with the prime minister replying to his questions with his own questions, as if he is still a Super One journalist.
It is clear the government has no answers to give the Opposition and so it resorts to insults and threats.
This is the attitude of a government in desperation, but the Opposition will not be cowed.
Before the introduction of direct streaming, people used to think the rowdy scenes in Parliament were caused by the two parties. Now all can see the rowdiness comes from the Government benches only.
There is extreme tension in Parliament but the Opposition will not shirk its duty.
Referring to the Gaffarena scandal, Dr Busuttil said this is the tip of the iceberg and there must be more to be discovered. From one day to the next the government turned Mr Gaffarena into a multi-millionaire. What has been done in this case affects all, even Labour supporters who are now realising the government helps only the few.
The Gaffarena case is becoming more and more complex. Mr Gaffarena bought just one half of a house in Valletta and then got the government to buy it off him. Now he has set his sights on the other half of this house and has even initiated court action to stop other people from buying that second half, convinced as he is the government will help him again.
The prime minister had just said (Dr Muscat was interviewed half an hour before Dr Busuttil began his interview) that the government intends unmasking the spies.This government seems to have no problem with those who intend to reveal something that happened in the past, which thus blackens the PN name, and calls whoever does so a whistleblower but those who reveal what is happening right now are called spies.
Dr Busuttil also referred to Saturday's huge demonstration in favour of the environment and in defence of saving ODZ areas. This demonstration was organised by civil society, Dr Busuttil said, and the prime minister must heed the implications of this event because two years of a government elected on the commitment that Malta belongs to all have shown the government wants to turn all Malta to belong only to it.
It is very significant that in his interview carried just a few minutes before, the prime minister failed to refer to this massive demonstration. This was a huge protest against the prime minister.
Some people whose faces had appeared on PL billboards before the election have now come out comparing the crowd which filled Republic Street with Labour's last mass meeting before the election and even with the crowds at the Zejtun festa. This is pathetic, Dr Busuttil said.
The PN leader also referred to Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment and pointed out it is written not just for church-going Catholics but for all people. Certain phrases of the Pope, such as those that refer to corruption and the interests of the few being privileged over those of the many, are very appropriate in the Maltese context.
Time and again in his interview, Dr Busuttil said he intends to lead a clean party and whatever revelations about the past will not be defended. However he added the party will defend those who are being called spies and protect these persons from the government's revenge.
By the end of the year, he promised the party to draw up a set of rules on ministers' behaviour, which will rule the new PN government with regards to ensuring justice to all, meritocracy and providing real opportunities for all.
Busuttil cannot be taken seriously - PL
The PL said in statement that Simon Busuttil has a problem of credibility.
“A year ago he used to state that unemployment and the fuel prices are a priority. Today he is stating the environment is. The leader of the Opposition is not consistent.
“In a 30-minute interview, Dr Busuttil made no reference to Malta’s economy or the fact that the EC lifted Malta’s excessive deficit procedure,” the PL said.