Dr Gonzi said he condemned this attitude and also condemned the social partner who gave the report to Dr Sant, adding that both have to carry the responsibility for their actions.

He explained that the government had commissioned the World Bank to compile the report after social partners – during a weekend of discussion in Gozo prior to the last November’s budget day – had requested that the government did not include its proposals in the budget speech.

It was decided to postpone the announcement of these proposals until June. Dr Gonzi said the report was submitted in March this year and a copy of the report was distributed to the social partners sitting on the MCESD for discussion.

He said this was a confidential report and was being discussed by all the social partners during which they could make their recommendations and pass comments on the proposed reforms.

However, the Malta Labour Party, he said, decided to disrupt this process and politicise the issue rather than leaving it free of partisan politics.

Dr Gonzi said it was not true that government was planning to reduce the pension. In fact, government was planning the opposite but Dr Sant chose not to quote this part of the report.

The part of the report Dr Gonzi quoted stated that: “Maximum pensions will be raised, together with the rise in the ceiling, potentially increasing benefits for current retirees, as well as for future retirees.”

He said the MLP’s behaviour proved that the party did not believe in the importance of the MCESD and the social dialogue that takes place there.

Notwithstanding the 12 June elections, the government is taking the right decision in the best interests of the country. He said it was not true that government was waiting until after the 12 June elections to publish the proposals.

When asked, Dr Gonzi said his invitation for the MLP to participate on the MCESD was still, and will be valid, “because I still believe that the Opposition can contribute to the dialogue there.” Replying to a request by The Malta Independent to comment on Dr Sant’s claim that there were more important issues which the government had to address than the pension system, Dr Gonzi said that this showed the warped logic the Labour Party was using.