The Nationalist Party said it is ironic that the government has chosen to speak out against poverty when it has just made Mark Gaffarena a millionaire overnight.

The Party said that instead of the government outlining what it has achieved in the past two years, it chooses to quote poverty figures that are three years out of date.

It said the government is not sticking to its pre-election pledge to actively combat poverty, as it is ignoring vulnerable persons and instead choosing to make those close to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat rich.

The government has already managed to isolate itself from the people, as it is not aware of the real challenges faced by the Maltese and Gozitans, the PN said.

With the raising of rent for those living in social housing, poverty will only increase instead of decrease, it said.