The Prime Minister hid behind "theatrics, personal attacks and lies" when replying to the issues raised by the Leader of the Opposition regarding this year's budget, Dr.Busuttil said in a press conference.

This, according to Dr.Busuttil, proved that the budget had no substance calling Dr Muscat a "salesman of a failed product".

Busuttil pointed to the lack of reduction in energy tariffs, questioning why Muscat would  insist on not using the interconnector introduced by the previous administration when it would provide cheaper rates for the general population. This he said showed that the measures in budget does not translate to an economy for the people.

With regards to social justice, Busuttil said that the Prime Minister again kept using words to avoid the truth. He pointed to increase in poverty amongst pensioners since the beginning of Muscat's legislature, the introductions in this year's budget once again were purely cosmetic.

Muscat failed to address and improve the quality of life for the Maltese population Busuttil claimed. He pointed to the lack of proper projects, initiatives and incentives in the transport sector . He also critcised the Prime Minister's attacks on the PN's proposals for alternative transport. He also questioned why the incentive which will see 18 year olds be granted a free year on public transport was not extended to government school and church school students.

Finally, Busuttil attacked the government's inability to maintain clean leadership specifically with the cases of Minister without Portfolio Konrad Mizzi and Muscat's chief of staff Keith Schembri for retaining them regardless of the Panama papers revelations last February.

Asked by The Malta Independent whether the European Union's decision to introduce legislation favouring liquefied natural gas, which his MEP's also favoured, could be interpreted as a conflicting message in view of the PN's stance against the LNG tanker, Dr Busuttil said:

"The PN's position was never against the use of gas as an energy source, but rather the safety risks associated with having an LNG tanker berthed so close to Marsaxlokk, which we have discovered could experience difficulties if it encountered a storm."