Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil accused the Prime Minister of doing what he wants by keeping Konrad Mizzi as Minister and keeping Keith Schembri as his Chief of Staff, rather than taking a decision based on the national interest.
"Dr Muscat's decision this week was a farce, and everyone is asking 'how can someone insult our intelligence like this?'"
"He had a simple test, to do what he wants or do what the people want. He failed and chose to do what he wants instead of doing what is in the national interest".
"Dr Muscat showed he is an accomplice with Mizzi and Schembri. Why? As you cannot have a situation like this, when they were caught with a secret company wanting to use them for brokerage, and do nothing. He is either covering for them or is involved. Those who cover up for others are also accomplices. Dr Muscat must now carry the responsibility".
The people are angry, he said. While some people might have been beginning to forget, and others expecting a real decision, "he reopened the wound, and it again began to bleed".
"Even labourites are angry and disappointed. They feel betrayed by the fact that three years ago they trusted Joseph Muscat, yet now he has betrayed them in this way".
Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil spoke at a political event in Mosta, with the theme: 'Workers pay for corruption'
He thanked all Maltese and Gozitan workers for the work they do throughout the year. He thanked Tony Tabone, his personal driver, who, "over the past months passed through an ordeal which was done to try and hurt me. To do this, they created unfounded allegations against my driver. The police found all the resources to investigate him and my car. They drove it for no less 520km to investigate Tony, but when it comes to resources to investigate Mizzi and Schembri they do not".
"Look at how they are using Malta's institutions"
He also said that another worker, Thomas Woods, passed through eight years of accusations , was vilified by everyone, and has now been acquitted.
He expressed solidarity with all workers who are being discriminated against, victimised and are being vindicated against in the civil service and public institutions, based solely on their political beliefs.
"This week alone, I met with a number workers who say they are being humiliated at work on a daily basis, purely because they are PN supporters". He also expressed solidarity with Labour workers who are being discriminated against, as Dr Muscat is making distinctions between the 'click' and those who aren't in it".
Alleges worker told to get PL membership card before getting promotion
He spoke of Transport Malta workers, saying that there is political discrimination there, also saying the same for workers at MEPA and in the ETC. The biggest case he has heard involves a worker with Waterservices. "They made it clear that if he is to take the promotion he deserves, he must change to a PL membership card (tessera). There are cases where they are telling workers that if they want to advance, they must switch to a PL membership card. I advised this worker not to lose his dignity. Your dignity is the most precious thing".
"Stop this discrimination now, as at the end of the day justice will come around for everyone".
He mentioned that today is the 12th anniversary of Malta's entrance to the EU. "Today reminds me that my first mission in public life was to work for Malta to enter the EU. That mission, I undertook with love towards my country. I undertook that mission as my primary interest is the national interest. But while I was working in favour of this mission, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat worked to the country, for Malta not to enter the EU. I remember thinking "how could he not understand that entering the EU would be for the benefit of the country".
"Dr Muscat is now the Prime Minister, and when I saw him before me 12 years ago, fighting to keep Malta out of the EU, it shows that he does not know the right decision from the wrong".
"This week, we have more proof that he has poor judgement. After more than 2 months, Dr Muscat called a press conference and said he decided. He said - 'look how good I am, how capable I am of deciding'. There was one problem. The decision he took was yet again the wrong one. A fatal mistake that will leave a mark his political career in the same way Alfred Sant's decision to suspend Malta's application marked his political career. Dr Muscat has lost the trust of the Maltese people, once and for all".
"Today, Dr Muscat will speak to the people, and tell them to congratulate him on his decision. There will be a crowd in attendance, and they will praise him, clapping and cheering saying how good he is. It is easier to fool someone than convince them they are being fooled. The people there today will cheer for Dr Muscat, but this will remind us of the emperor with no clothes". its easier to fool someone than to convince them they are being fooled
"I am informed that last Monday, the Prime Minister spoke to all MPs, and asked for advice as to what he should do regarding Minister Mizzi. One by one they told him to remove Mr Mizzi. Yet he decided to Keep Mizzi and Schembri. In Keith Schembri's case, he kept him exactly where he was as if he did nothing wrong. Having your Chief of Staff with a secret company in Panama, which was opened after he was appointed to that position, opening it for brokerage. "Dr Muscat told us 'he still enjoys my trust', yet I don't know what trust he id referring to, is it the New Zealand one?"
"As for Konrad Mizzi, he was given a promotion. Whereas before he was responsible for energy and health, his is now a minister in the Prime Minister's office, thus responsible for all ministries. He was kept as if nothing happened. Dr Muscat, to explain his decision, based it on a false premise. He said that they did nothing illegal. Wrong. They had to declare their trusts with the income tax department yet they did not. There is an illegality. There is also suspicion of further illegality with opening a company in Panama for brokerage, which raises alarms of intention for corruption".
"Where will they bring €1 million per year from for their bank accounts if there is no corruption".
"Dr Muscat also said he was keeping Dr Mizzi as he delivers. Ask those waiting in the emergency ward and on the waiting lists how much he delivers. Ask the people who are in the corridors on stretchers how much Dr Mizzi delivers. Minister Mizzi quickly solved the corridors problem, by calling the corridors wards".
"He delivers... the one who was meant to build a power station in two years, and three years down the line is still not built".
The Prime Minister said one more thing, that Konrad Mizzi will resign as PL Deputy Leader. I thought I held the record for the lowest number of days as a Deputy Leader, but Konrad Mizzi has beaten me. If Mizzi is not good to be a PL Deputy Leader, then how is he good to help lead the country? No he is not good, not even to be a minister".
"This shows how Dr Muscat has brought the PL into ridicule. The PL was kidnapped by Joseph Muscat, Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. These three don't have the same values the PL held for many years, including social justice. The PL, thus, is today a party without values. More and more Labourites are finding it hard to identify their values with what the PL is today saying. The PN is here for the whole nation including labourites, especially those with principles who believe in values".
'Lead us so that we can reach your aspirations' - Beppe Fenech Adami to Malta's youth
PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami said that today, we celebrate 2 feasts. The 12th anniversary of Malta's entry to the EU and Jum il-Haddiem. "Twelve years ago, Simon Busuttil was employed by then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, to deliver the message to the Maltese, that Malta's place was within the EU. Twelve years ago, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was saying that a partnership was the best choice, and that Malta should be the Switzerland of the Mediterranean".
"Today, the Maltese people are again seeing the PN's message and understand the Dr Muscat's betrayal"
Workers, he said, remain at the heart of the Nationalist Party. He said that the police corps "unfortunately, has over the past three years was ridiculed and have lost the trust of the public. We have seen another resignation by a police commissioner. When we are next in government, we will bring respect and décor back to the Police Corps".
"As for the Armed Forces, we are following the ongoings there, and when in government, all those who suffered an injustice will see justice done. Those soldiers who weren't given deserved promotions, who were humiliated, who were skipped, we give our word that when in government we will do you justice".
He mentioned workers still working in precarious work, and the promise by the PL to end such work.
Dr Fenech Adami then turned to the financial services sector, saying that Dr Muscat is putting the future of all the youths working in this sector in peril.
"We have a Prime Minister who has lost control over the most corrupt government in Maltese history. Those who do not fight corruption is corrupt, those who defend corruption are corrupt, and those who reward corruption are not worthy of being Prime Minister".
"What is the point in having a strong economy, when the millions it generates go to Gaffarena to buy half a house in Valletta? To have Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat deal with Azerbaijan and lose millions? What is this economy worth, when a cancer patient must go and beg for help from the Malta Community Chest fund? What is a strong economy worth when you have a government obsessed with cutting social services for those most in need?" He asked.
He appealed to "genuine labourites who feel that Dr Muscat betrayed them and used them. While we are not perfect, we are in politics to do the best we can for the country. We want to serve everyone, so nobody in the country would be left behind".
Lastly, he appealed to the youths who will vote for the first time in the next general elections. "This country is yours. The present and future is yours. The PN welcomes you. Come and enter the PN's home and share your dreams, ideals and ideas. Lead us so that we can reach your aspirations".
Malta deserves honest politics from honest politicians
PN financial services spokesperson Kristy Debono also addressed the event. She said that Malta, more than ever before, deserves honest politics from honest politicians.
"We want a country, where workers benefit from the good the country is benefitting from".
She said that there are families who, with both parents working, are having trouble making ends meet at the end of each month. "We meet with families all the time and they always express their concern with the economy, not understanding how the economy is doing well yet they themselves struggle to make ends meet".
She spoke of social housing, and said that there are those who told her that since housing rent was raised, they are finding it troubling to cope with day to day life.
She said that the Opposition is the defender of the people.
She made reference to the magisterial against Simon Busuttil's driver, calling it ironic that he had to pass through a magisterial inquiry, yet someone who acquires a company in Panama and attempts to open bank accounts, is not only not investigated, but left where he is.
She called the current situation surreal. "With the largest cabinet in Malta, we don't have one Prime Minister, we have three," she said referring to Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri. "Government does not care about it and is laughing in the face of all those who elected them". "It's a betrayal of the workers".
"Let us put aside political opinions and fight for the rights of workers, and consider who raised the wages for workers. The answer, is the PN".
"I am convinced, more than ever before, that this country could only have peace of mind through Simon Busuttil's honest politics. We deserve an honest and sincere Prime Minister".
Photos by Jonathan Borg