Minister Edward Scicluna has time and time again failed to ensure that the authorities under his political authority function independently and in the national interest, Opposition spokesman for finance Mario de Marco said today.
His inaction has resulted in the erosion of Malta's once-excellent reputation as a centre for financial services, de Marco said in a statement.
As evidenced by a series of reports by the Auditor General, his inaction has also cost the tax payers hundreds of millions of euros with public contracts such as the one signed with Electrogas. He turned a blind eye as direct orders became the rule rather than the exception and did nothing to stop the reckless increase in public expenditure, de Marco said.
His role in the scandalous contract awarded to Vitals has made him, together with two other Government ministries, the subject of a magisterial inquiry, de Marco added. In any other democracy, such a development would have resulted in a resignation. Sadly, Minister Scicluna and his colleagues are only interested in protecting their personal and political interests, the statement concluded.
The Nationalist Party wants to tarnish Malta’s reputation - Labour Party
The latest press release published by the Nationalist Party, is a continuation of the Opposition’s drive to tarnish Malta’s reputation on the international arena, aimed to shy away foreign investment and stall the sustainable economic growth, the Labour Party said in a statement. They want Malta to go back to their times, when high unemployment rate, lack of investment and poverty prevailed.
Contrary to what used to happen under Nationalist governments, Minister Edward Scicluna adopted a number of economic policies which is resulting in Malta having a sustainable economic growth and healthy public finance.
This success is reflected not only by the regular upgrades which the international rating agencies are giving Malta, but more importantly, for three successive years – so far – public finance registered a yearly surplus, the statement said.