Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, asked about Konrad Mizzi’s absence from the campaign so far, said that everyone will get their chance.

Addressing a press conference in Marsa, The Malta Independent asked whether Minister Konrad Mizzi has been kept out of the public eye because the electorate sees him as the Panama Papers. “We are in the sixth day of the campaign and there are many more days for everyone to be a protagonist of this campaign.”

Yesterday Prime Minister Joseph Muscat made a statement about discussing the possibility of regulating prostitution. He said that Malta cannot close its eyes to being called a place where human trafficking occurs. He was asked by this newsroom for his comment given that this indicates his belief that the police force has failed in this regard, and he was also asked whether he believes such a move (regulation) would create a dangerous precedent? 

“Yesterday I mentioned three things. Firstly that the time has come to change the name of civil unions to marriage, as in truth there is no difference but the name. Secondly there needs to be two discussions, firstly about prostitution. I believe the systems in our country have failed us for many years. This is an area where there is an underground, and when I see international reports - including by those written by the USA government among others - that Malta is said to be used for human trafficking and how people are brought here to be used as sex slaves, I believe we need a discussion as to what to do. We should not just close our eyes to it.”

He spoke about legalising recreational cannabis use. “We believe we should have a discussion about recreational marijuana, for small amounts, in the same way as happened in Canada and Portugal. This does not mean a free-for-all, but that a discussion should occur.”

He expressed his satisfaction at the Opposition agreeing that a discussion should occur. He said he is personally in favour of recreational cannabis use

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat was asked a question relating to the revelations by the Malta Independent, that information seen by this newsroom debunks what has been said by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat who defended himself and his spouse from allegations that Egrant is owned by Michelle Muscat by saying that such transactions can be traced by SWIFT, as according to the FIAU such records were not registered by the bank.

He denied lying. “I do not know what the FIAU said, what I said was to let the Magistrate do his job. I think in truth the person caught lying was Simon Busuttil”

He expressed his trust in the Magistrate and said that the whole truth will eventually come out through the Magistrate

As for offshore accounts held by his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri, the Prime Minister stressed that Mr Schembri was a businessman and that most of them were opened prior to the 2013 general election.

He said that he already made clear that Mr Schembri was wrong with regard to the Panama company.

On the topic of the press conference, Dr Muscat said that government will be working to increase pensions to 60 per cent of the average wage, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today.

Dr Muscat said that the minimum wage will be increased following an agreement with the social partners. The next step is to increase pensions, a target which he said was difficult but attainable.

He said that government will guarantee the cost of living bonus, including for those who became pensioners after 2008.

Dr Muscat said that gradually, a PL government would give full-pensions to widows and widowers once they reach retirement age. He also spoke of continuing to improve service pensions.

He pledged that a PL government would introduce the opportunity for social security pensions for police officers, soldiers and CPD officers to be based on the present highest income, if it is higher than what they earned during their service.

Persons certified as having a terminal illness will receive a full invalidity pension under a PL government, he added.

Dr Muscat also pledged that in cases of separation, divorce or the dissolution of cohabitation agreements, the rights for partners who would have spent time out of the workplace to take care of their family would be protected through legal amendments that would be introduced.

Dr Muscat also said that under a PL government,  persons with two part-time jobs and no full-time job would be allowed to pay national insurance contributions for up to 40 hours a week.

He also said that a PL government would ensure the principle that no tax would be paid on any pension that is up to €13,000.