The Nationalist Party today accused the Labour government of refusing to listen to people even during the so-called ‘Gvern li Jisma (a government that listens) events.
It was reacting to a report published in The Times, which said people who wanted to participate in the events were told that they could not ask certain questions so as not to ‘turn the event into a political one.’ The people who approached the newspaper said they wanted to ask questions related to the Lands Department but were told not to raise the subject.
The PN said this confirmed that Joseph Muscat was choosing to isolate himself and become detached from the people. An event that, in itself should be positive, has been turned into a play where everything that is said is strictly controlled. “This confirms that Joseph Muscat’s head is made of hard stone (zonqor) and he only does as he pleases.”
“The PM is refusing to listen to the many elderly people who hardly get by with their measly pensions while making Gaffarena a millionaire overnight. He is refusing to listen to the parents who have to work a part-time job while giving Konrad Mizzi’s wife a €13,000-a-month job. He refuses to hear about those working in precarious jobs but several of his MPs earn more than one salary. He is pocketing €7,000 a year for renting his own car but workers and pensioners only get 58 cents a week. He refuses to hear how rent for social housing has increased but has given a convicted criminal a Brussels job with a salary of €100,000.”
The PN said Joseph Muscat was not only refusing to listen to others but branded those who disagreed with him as extremists.
OPM reply
In a statement, the Office of the Prime Minister said it was ironic that the Opposition Leader, who did not allow journalists to question him during political activities, criticised the ‘Gvern li Jisma’ consultation meetings, more so when he was basing his criticism on a newspaper report the OPM had denied.
PN replies to OPM
In another statetement the PN said that, instead of realising that he has become detached from people, Joseph Muscat chose to launch an ‘attack’ on the Opposition Leader. “Instead of truly consulting, Joseph Muscat’s government negotiates secret agreements to make certain people rich,” the PN said, citing the Cafe Premier and Gaffarena scandals. “Joseph Muscat continues to confirm what how hard headed he is.”