Alternattiva Demokratika challenged Prime Minister Gonzi yesterday following comments he made this week during an interview on television.

Dr Harry Vassallo said, “During the interview Dr Gonzi was asked what intentions he had about the promised reform in the rent laws, an issue that has been raised by the Greens. Dr Gonzi replied that he would be writing to the Opposition very soon to present his proposals.

“We believe that, once again, the Prime Minister is bluffing. People who have not received any justice can no longer be treated with such deception and disrespect. Over the last two years Minister Cristina made several promises that a White Paper on rent reform was finalised. She has on several occasions promised that this White Paper will be presented to the Cabinet. This was never done.

“The Nationalist government continues to dodge this issue, while Labour does not have the courage to come up with a proposal for a solution to a problem that has been the cause of severe injustice for thousands of families for more than 60 years.”

Dr Vassallo challenged the Prime Minister to include in the forthcoming budget the proposals made by Alternattiva Demokratika during the pre-budget period.

Specifically, AD proposed that from 2008, the government should pay property owners one-third of the fair rental value of the properties. In the absence of any reform in the law, this amount should increase to two-thirds of the fair rent value in 2009, and full compensation in 2010.