Former Finance Minister Tonio Fenech has reacted to the government’s announcement of a new set of tax rebates by calling the measure a vote-buying exercise.

“This is no tax refund,” Fenech – who served as Finance Minister when the PN were last in government – said.,

“Many recipients have not even paid tax let alone deserve a refund.  This is buying votes with our own money, while in the meantime we balloon the deficit to over €1.5 billion,” Fenech said.

“This is irresponsibility and Malta is fast becoming a failed democracy,” he wrote.

Fenech said that if the Government has €70 million to spend it should make “an effective measure to address families burdened by the costs of living and not shower everyone with a token so called refund.”

Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that workers and students will be receiving cheques worth €100, with pensioners and people on social benefits getting up to €200 as part of a cash injection to the economy.

The government’s total outlay in the form of the cash cheques and tax refunds will be €70 million, 380,000 people will benefit, he said.

The Labour Party meanwhile reacted to Fenech’s criticism by pointing out that Tonio Fenech was the Finance minister who had increased electricity and water bills to record highs.

“Bernard Grech is anchored to the past”, the PL said in a brief statement.