Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today promised that Malta will not run into any economic or financial problems under a Labour government, reminding people that the PN last year predicted that Malta will be asking the EU for a bailout after one year of Labour.  

Dr Muscat said that had the massive debts racked up by Enemalta not been tackled and the corporation allowed to go bankrupt, Maltese banks funding those debts would have run into trouble, leading to a bank run and loss of savings for ordinary people.

The Prime Minister said that he is not afraid of people’s judgement, expressing himself happy with the decisions he has taken after one year of leading the country.

“We left no stone unturned in our first year, the progress made is the fruit of years of planning. Do you remember the scaremongering that took place last year, when they tried to paint an apocalyptic picture,” Dr Muscat asked during a political activity in Fgura.

“We had an incident free handover, we showed that we are a democratic and European country. They were saying that at this point we would be asking Europe for a bailout. Instead, Europe is asking us how we are managing to boost the country's economy so much,” Dr Muscat said.

He said that contrary to what was said prior to the election, the Labour government did not freeze the minimum wage, and instead removed taxation on minimum wage earners.

“They said that income tax would rise, what we did is reduce the highest rate of income tax and reduced income tax for parents after only one year. After one year beginning next year, free childcare will be provided,” Dr Muscat said.

The Prime Minister mentioned the scaremongering by the Nationalist Party on stipends, which also came to naught.

“The most frequently asked questions during house visits were about stipends. One year on, not only have they not removed or reduced stipends, but we have increased them and will keep on increasing them. Repeaters are getting a stipend too,” Dr Muscat said. 

Dr Muscat said that Simon Busuttil’s company benefitted from €421,000 in consultancy fees granted by direct order by former PN Minister George Pullicino.

The Prime Minister said that Dr Busuttil must carry the responsibility of his “lies” after saying on Friday that the consultancies were granted on the basis of a competitive process.

Dr Muscat accused the Opposition leader of being hell bent on scaremongering on the LNG tanker in Marsaxlokk bay.

The Prime Minister said that the delivery of a consignment of fuel carries more danger than the presence of the tanker.

The gas tanks at Birzebbuga and the Delimara power station chimney will be phased out and the Marsa power station closed down by the end of this legislature, he said. 

PN statement 

In a statement, the PN accused the Prime Minister of being in a state of panic due to the “mess” being planned in Marsaxlokk bay.

“The Prime Minister once against showed that he is not willing to listen to those saying that his plan to store LNG on a tanker in Marsaxlokk is a mess. 91% of residents, local and foreign experts, fishermen and environmental NGOs are all saying that the decision makes no sense at all and will endanger residents and economic activity in the region. Yet the Prime Minister insists that what he says goes,” the statement said.

The statement said that a clear alternative exists in having a floating storage and re-gasification unit anchored outside of the port.