Obviously, as happens every year, immediately after the budget, we are bombarded with comments and information as government and Opposition battle it out for the best sound-bites and spin.

Observers and analysts try their best to analyse the budget speech and to come up with a definitive judgment.

This time, apart from all this, there is yet another judgment to come, but this will come next week from the European Commission – which still has to give its approval.

What this paper can offer is some simple thoughts expressed on the basis of a first read of the Budget Speech.

Minister Scicluna boasted the Budget has 250 measures and ‘no new taxes’. His predecessor used to make almost the same boast, every year. Then the country found that while no new taxes were added, many government agencies and bodies increased their charges. The end result was that John Citizen got clobbered just the same.

The first judgment has to regard the deficit figure which rose to the unacceptable level of 3.3% in 2012 and which this government says it will bring down to 2.7% by the end of this year and to 2.1% next year. This will enable Malta to emerge from the Excessive Deficit Procedure and the accompanying stigma of a country not in charge of its own finances. Obviously, this stands to be confirmed in the coming weeks and months and by the European Commission and rating agencies. If this is confirmed, this will be indeed a signal achievement of this government.

The ‘no new taxes’ mantra is good to hear and obviously good and glorious to proclaim. It would seem the government is gambling on getting increased revenue from the growth it hopes to generate in the economy rather than from making cuts or from increasing taxes. Many other European governments tried to do this and not all succeeded. Maybe this government, with its micro-management skills, will be able to do what other countries failed to do. But obviously the government has to have a Plan B in case things do not go the way they are planned to go. Reducing the deficit from 3.3% to 2.7%, if confirmed, is indeed a signal achievement.

It is a good thing this government has continued on initiatives begun by its predecessor, from the income tax reduction, to the support to Air Malta and more. Beyond the shouting of partisan politics, what is good for the country must be continued whatever the paternity.

At a time of austerity, the government has come up with a range of initiatives in the social services sector. Every year, such initiatives always look good on paper, but then one has to look at the delivery to judge the schemes. We have one reservation to make: That on the government’s plans to “make work pay” and its rather naïve belief that those who do not work don’t work because they cannot find work for a variety of reasons. Those who have their feet on the ground, and their ears too, know that anybody who wants to work finds a job and those who find all sorts of excuses not to work just don’t want to work.

The government is right to try and increase the participation rate which, especially as regards women, is a negative European record. But we do doubt people will be persuaded to go out and work when they have it so good, when they have been having it so good for so long. Then again, the government plied the carrot but not the stick: What may stop these people leeching off the state is careful vetting of each individual rather than increasing childcare facilities. But we doubt if any government can be trusted has the mettle to come down hard on the skivers and the defaulters.  But of course, let us have all childcare facilities we can have.