Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced today that he will reveal another five new priorities for a PL government next week.

The Prime Minister addressed a lively crowd at a political event held in Rabat this evening. He is on the campaign trail, after having called a snap election. The Prime Minister has already made a few proposals, including tax refunds for more than 190,000 workers, a pension rise and a €700 million project to resurface all of Malta's roads. The €700 million project will be funded by EU funds and national funds including funds from the Citizenship by Investment programme.

He arrived hand in hand with his wife, Michelle, and was met with “Joseph, Joseph” chants from the crowd. On his way in, one woman grabbed both the Prime Minister and his wife, kissing them on the cheek. In the crowd, a few personalities could be seen including former GWU Secretary General Tony Zarb.

The Prime Minister is going into this election facing a major scandal, where it has been alleged that his wife, Michelle, owns the Panama company called Egrant. It has also been alleged that OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri received kickbacks for the IIP scheme. A magisterial inquiry regarding aspects of the allegations is currently underway.

Addressing the event, the Prime Minister said that he feels at home here in Rabat.

He said that the first five priorities have thus far been revealed and are just the beginning, stressing that next week another five will be revealed. Dr Muscat also said that the electoral manifesto will have a lot more for people to talk about.

“One of the major discussions we had internally was, ‘what will we start with.’ We want proposals which can be achieved and which make sense.”

Regarding the proposals, he said that today, people see this government as one which brought a surplus from deficit,  and stressed that the proposals made are sustainable and can be achieved.

Everyone earning up to €60,000, including self-employed persons, workers, everyone who works, will receive a tax refund. By the end of the legislature, he said, the lowest check one could receive is €200 and the highest is €340.

 “We are speaking about cheques for every person who works, not for every family.” He called this a feminist measure, as “if a wife goes out to work, then she should receive her own cheque.”

Rabat_PL from The Malta Independent on Vimeo.

Dr Muscat said that tomorrow, the PL will publish the economic simulations of the proposals they have made so far, and how they will affect the economy and the country.

He turned to the 400 or so jobs that will be created through the €30 million investment by SR Technics. “During the election campaign, we brought in 400 more jobs. I called an election as we do not want to put the good we have brought in to be put in peril. On 3 June, the choice is clear, either we go forward or lose everything.”

“It is important for everyone to go and vote on 3 June.” He urged everyone not to stay on polling numbers, “we need to work for every vote. It is important that you vote early and vote for all PL candidates.”

The Prime Minister took a shot at the PN and the PD, calling them a coalition of confusion, mentioning the two leaders bickering during a meeting.

“We are one team, and the choice is clear. It is not between one thing or another, it is between who you want to be Prime Minister.”

A strong team is needed to achieve economic success, - Edward Scicluna

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said that a strong team is needed to achieve economic success, and said that the Prime Minister did just that, found a strong team.

He said that the PN used to ridicule the idea of the PL roadmap. “It was not understood by many people. At the beginning, people did not understand the Prime Minister’s plan, to help grow the economic tree. One budget after another we managed to build an economy which we can boast with.” There were those who ridiculed that Malta would be the “best in Europe,” he said.

Professor Scicluna was asked by the commentator for his thoughts, following statements by PN Deputy Leader Beppe Fenech Adami, that the PL will turn Malta into a country like Cyprus. “We have nothing to do with Cyprus.”

He said that when talking with the IMF and rating agencies, the discussion surrounded questions as to how Malta will continue to have a surplus over the coming five years, and how the benefits will be divided equally amongst everyone.

“I am pleased to say that the Prime Minister was right” - GWU representative

Jeremy Camilleri – GWU Secretary for Government and public entities – was a panellist during the first discussion. He said that the tax cuts proposed by the Prime Minister are sustainable. He spoke of workers, who will receive tax cuts if they undertake a Masters degree.

He spoke of the success of the Labour Party. “I was critical of government towards the beginning of the legislature as I felt that they were moving away from the workers. Today I am pleased to say that the Prime Minister was right and I was wrong.” He spoke of the minimum wage rise. “Can you imagine a government who found agreement between all social partners.”

PL candidate Clayton Bartolo spoke about the proposed tax refund, and called it a gift to the Maltese people from a government led by Joseph Muscat.

Another candidate, Roderick Cachia, said that workers will have greater motivation thanks to the bank holidays proposal.

Videos: Paul Jones   Photos: Michael Camilleri