How can the government keep claiming that the Maltese economy is doing well when the people are not, Simon Busuttil asked today.

Dr Busuttil was interviewed on Radio 101 this morning.

We can now speak of the four years of the Labour administration, Dr Busuttil began, and all we can see is bluff, propaganda and self-praise. But people are not seeing things in this way.

The government called this Budget a Social Budget but many are finding this Budget leaves them where they were.

People especially in certain difficult situations, like pensioners, are finding they cannot make it to the end of the month.

In his speech in reply to the Budget Speech, he (Dr Busuttil) had quoted from the government's own Economic Survey which surveyed companies that between them employ some 31,000 workers. It compared their costs in August 2015 and in August this year and found that their costs have risen. So the increases given last year have not succeeded in keeping up with the cost of living.

These persons include employees of retail outlets (some 25,000), in the printing industry, in the servicing industry, in food and beverage outlets, in hotels and catering establishments - over 70,000 in all.

It was only now, after four years in office, that the prime minister talked about the minimum wage, so any increase in this will only take place after next year's Budget.

In 2010, Dr Muscat had spoken about the living wage and concluded the time was not right for its introduction.

Now some organisations have come forth and proposed a 3.5% increase each year for three years, so 10% over three years. He (Dr Busuttil) had immediately agreed to discuss this proposal and suggested it is discussed at MCESD but the Prime Minister has not said yet if he agrees with the proposal.

The Budget Speech has not brought about improvements to the pensioners except to a small minority of them. Many pensioners have been given an increase of €2.25 a week, which amounts to €117 a year.

People described in the Caritas report as being at risk of poverty must be helped.

Dr Busuttil then spoke about Saturday's protest in Sliema. He said the  people feel abandoned by their own government. Sliema, they feel, has become on big construction site.

The recently-published Masterplan for Paceville was published with a lot of pomp but then when they looked closer, many people were shocked to find out they will be affected by the Masterplan. Restaurants and small outlets will be closed down and the whole area faces 15 years of construction.

Then people found out the Masterplan was tailored for the benefit of some big companies only. The consultant who drew up the Masterplan was found out to be the consultant of one of the big companies that will benefit from it.

PA Chairman Johann Buttigieg saw no conflict of interest in this but Deborah Schembri, his superior, said she had not been made aware of this.

Then she announced a public consultation about the whole thing, which should have been carried out before the Masterplan was published. She must shoulder her responsibilities.

It would seem that having kept Konrad Mizzi and Keith Schembri at their posts, the prime minister lost all ability to control his government.

Finally, Dr Busuttil spoke about the hospitals scandal. On 30 November 2015 the government agreed to privatise the Gozo and St Luke's Hospitals. Two days later an account was opened in Panama.

It is time for people to wake up. PN commits itself to acting differently. It is unthinkable that Joseph Muscat, having done all this in his first term, be given a second term.

A future PN government commits itself to act in favour of people, to implement social justice, to provide free medicines to the elderly, and to improve the quality of life.