Prime Minister Joseph Muscat insinuated this evening that PN Leader Simon Busuttil fears the result of the inquiry into allegations, amongst others, that Michelle Muscat is the owner of Egrant.
Speaking at a political activity in Tarxien, the Prime Minister who is under fire from all angles on these allegations, questioned why PN Leader Simon Busuttil took the latest allegations regarding OPM Chief of Staff Keith Schembri to Aaron Bugeja, the Magistrate leading the inquiry into the Egrant section of the scandal.
Weeks ago, Dr Busuttil had alleged that Keith Schembri had taken kickbacks for the IIP scheme. He took that evidence to Magistrate Aaron Bugeja, who ordered that another inquiry be started, but separate from the inquiry into the Michelle- Egrant allegation as it had nothing to do with them. This morning, Simon Busuttil took the latest allegations, that Schembri made payments to former Allied Newspapers Managing Director Adrian Hillman, to Magistrate Aaron Bugeja.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that Simon Busuttil is afraid. "Following the debate yesterday, he panicked, grabbed a year-old story, and said he will go to the Magistrate. You've had it for ages and should have gone in the beginning"
He said that Dr Busuttil is wasting Magistrate Aaron Bugeja's time. "Does he not know that he (Magistrate Bugeja) will tell him (Busuttil) that it has nothing to do with the inquiry he is leading and to put it before another magistrate. Is he trying to waste the magistrate's time. Is he afraid of the inquiry result?"
"If there is the smallest truth in all you said against me, I will resign no matter what, but if it is found that you took people protesting on the street on a lie, that you tried to destabilise the country on a lie, then you must go."
"The magistrate can bring out the inquiry result whenever he wants, for me, the sooner the better. But when it is revealed, I will ensure Dr Busuttil carries political responsibility for the damage he has done to this country."
Dr Muscat spoke about the electoral manifesto.
"We began this electoral campaign, and I had told you that we had implemented 85% of our manifesto. After two weeks of campaigning, we did not stop governing, and we have now implemented 90% of it. In four years and two months only."
"This is the guarantee for every family and business, that yes we reduced energy tariffs, reduced taxes, gave free childcare, removed medicines out of stock. We kept all our promises, and where we were unable to finish, we will do them. Over the coming five years this government will once again keep its promises. This movement knows what it is saying, what it is doing, how much it costs and will implement what it promises."
"Is there anyone who has any doubt that once we say we will give back public holidays we would? Everyone knows we will. Does anyone doubt that we would give an €8 rise to pensioners? Everyone knows we will do it. Does anyone doubt that we would resurface all roads? Nobody has any doubt."
"In fact, whenever we say something, everyone takes it seriously. If the coalition of confusion makes the same pledge as us, people know we will keep to our word. When it comes to the others, people start to think how they would get out of it."
"Did they ever go to an election saying they would raise taxes or VAT? No, they always did it after the election. That is what they will do, again raise VAT and bills."
"Our word is steel."
They criticised the PN manifestos back in 2008 and 2013. "They used to tell us what the PL promised would not be possible. Back then they told us to turn on our washing machines at night. They told us to get used to medicines being out of stock. The same people who create problems cannot solve them. We are the party that solved problems and will continue to solve the country's problems."
"The only thing uniting the most unstable couple in politics is their hatred of me. The day after the election they will have no idea what to do. On the other hand, our proposals are based on solid principles. Today we continued talking about proposals. They know that when we say something we implement it. We will continue to reveal proposals."
He mentioned a number of proposals made this morning. He mentioned the €300 allowance for persons who have just given birth or adopted a baby, as well as a baby starter kit containing necessary products for the baby's first days of living.
Acknowledging the hefty expenditure of adoption, Dr Muscat announced that a grant would be given at a maximum of €10,000 for legal fees. A rebate has also been proposed for travel expenses, because if a couple wishes to adopt from another country, there would be at least one court hearing in that country and some other procedures requiring the couple to be there.
Dr Muscat said that they would remove waiting lists for elderly persons to enter elderly care homes.
"What you saw over the past four years is just the beginning of a beautiful road for the Maltese and Gozitan people, where we can be at ease, knowing there is a better future ahead. But we need to make a choice on 3 June. Staying at home is giving an advantage to those who want to turn back the clock."
He turned to the situation regarding Charles Mercieca a student who asked a question during yesterday;s debate. It has been reported that Simon Busuttil told him to pass on his regards to his father, (Franco Mercieca). Dr Muscat said that Simon Busuttil gave him a look. "That was a moment which betrays him. You realise that these are the same traces of the same person who thinks this way. Four years ago he told Deborah Schembri that she has a face of a nationalist. Two weeks ago in Birgu, he said that "you have problems here."
"But you realise that in non-scripted situations, you can see his character. He is a person who for him, there is a North and a South, a nationalist and a labourite, a poor person and a rich person. Malta is different for us. It is not a Malta divided. It a place where a PN supporter can marry a PL supporter, A Malta where families who never spoke, come together. We are one family."
Prime Minister's aid Glenn Bedingfield, who is also a PL candidate and one of the island's most controversial bloggers, said today that the "PN live to lie and lie to live."
Glenn Bedingfield said that the PL have the best ideas and that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has the best vision for Malta's future." All those whose heart beats like mine, must run after every vote in the remaining 16 days. Joseph Muscat has done a lot of good for the island, he deserves another five years!"
Mr Bedingfield said it would be hard for the PN to go any lower than they are now. "This election is different. Simon Busuttil wants to speak about principles. Our proposals are based on our principles. Firstly, the principle of equality, social justice and the principle of creating good and dividing the benefits of that good with everyone. "The PN live to lie and lie to live. Like the Lie created at the PN headquarters that will drive them into a wall. I've known Joseph for 25 years. We have passed through many things together. When they attack him, they attack me. When they attack him, it is as though they are attacking us."
"The PN is a factory of lies, not more and no less. We can speak about values. Joseph Muscat has one value that distinguishes him from Simon Busuttil, that of honesty. When we speak about principles, and that of equality. We don't look at faces. We want everyone to succeed. Since we are helping everyone succeed, they are doing all they can to stop us."
"The only proof of corruption in this country is when Simon Busuttil was the PN Deputy Leader, and he has done nothing since then. Today he goes to the Magistrate and we agree with this."
"We believe the truth should completely come out. The truth is that Simon and his friends are lying."
He spoke about Simon Busuttil mentioning Mintoff. "He should feel embarrassed to mention Mintoff. Where was he when the power station was built in Marsaxlokk. Where was he when it was built in front of Mintoff's house. We want to be a government for the south as we are for the north. For us, everyone is equal. The PL turned the south into a dump, and we have to again bring life to it. Joseph and I will contest the 2nd and 5th districts together, to be a strong voice for these districts. We want people to have more decent work."
PL MP Franco Mercieca said that over the past four years Joseph Muscat has been uniting the Maltese people.
He said that Simon Busuttil wants to turn back the clock on principles. We don't want politics which divide, but politics which unite.
"I appeal to the Maltese who love their country to go out and vote. If they don't vote, then it's a vote to Simon Busuttil who is trying to divide the country."
PL candidate Ian Castaldi Paris criticised the PN slogan "I choose Malta," saying that for 25 years they never chose Malta.
"I was part of the PN and they brought people to tears."
"Joseph Muscat chose Malta. We reduced energy tariffs. We did everything to improve your lives. This movement, this government, always chose Malta, and always chose each and every one of you. We never went abroad to damage Malta's name."
He said that the PN has an out of date engine, with out of date people. "I am here with conviction, and can say just how beautiful 'Malta Taghna Lkoll' is."
He said that "Joseph Muscat is 'taghna lkoll'."I will never betray you."
Photos and video by Paul Jones