The Nationalist Party said today that families with a low income were having to make good for the institutionalised corruption brought about by this government.

Addressing a news conference outside the housing estate in Pieta, PN MPs Paula Mifsud Bonnici and Stephen Spiteri said that amid the corruption that exists, the government increased social housing rent money, gave a meagre increase of 58c a week to families, and failed to lower fuel prices despite the fact that prices in Malta are the highest the Europe.

Dr Spiteri said that there are close to 100,000 at risk of poverty but the government was only helping people in its circles. “One would have thought that if the economy is doing well and the unemployment rate is down, the quality of life of people would have improved but this is not the case,” he said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici outlined a number of scandals involving individuals close to the Labour Party in government, including the fact that a number of promotions were given to people working at the Housing Authority who are close to Labour.

She mentioned the fact that the son of former police commissioner Ray Zammit, Daniel, was boarded out of the Police Force within days, only to be given a 60,000-euro job with Enemalta. She also highlighted the issues involving the Gaffarena family, including the expropriation of a Valletta property, and not least the Cafe Premier scandal, among others.

She said that while the government promoted people close to Labour who work at the Housing Authority, it increased the rent fees for those using social housing.

The PN also distributed a leaflet to the media – which is to be distributed in the coming days to the public – displaying images in relation to the major scandals that took place during this legislature.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici called on the government to reduce electricity tariffs once again.

In reply, the Labour Party said that the Nationalist Party was trying to twist facts. It said that PN is the same party that had said that poverty is just a perception when it was in government and also wanted to increase the tax on minimum wages.

The party said that the government would continue to strive to introduce measures to reduce poverty and to put more money into people’s pockets.