The decision by the Cabinet to allow Edward Scicluna to retain his salary as Central Bank governor even though he will not be performing the functions of the role is another example of “pigging out”, the Nationalist Party said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, Nationalist MP Ivan Castillo said that Prime Minister Robert Abela has lost control of his Cabinet and had to give in to the wishes of Joseph Muscat. Abela is weak and ultimately incapable of leading the country, he said.
He pointed out that on Tuesday, the same Cabinet that allowed three hospitals to be handed over to foreigners, that gave €400 million to private companies, said that it is taking the best decisions for the country.
Castillo said that the cabinet decided to “award” Scicluna by continuing to pay his salary as governor as well as continue to give him the allowances he previously enjoyed such as for mobile phone, car and private health insurance. He pointed out that the Cabinet, unlike the PN, did not discuss a new economic vision, the removal of tax from the COLA and other more pressing matters. He said that it turned out that Rosianne Cutajar was clearly correct with her comment on “pigging out”.
Castillo said that with his salary, Scicluna receives in 36 days what and average worker receives in a year.
Nationalist MP Albert Buttigieg quoted the NSO which found that between 2017 and 2022 the number of people at risk of poverty increased from approximately 75,000 to over 85,000 and that the average wage was €19,000 in a year. He explained that there are vulnerable people and families behind these figures.
Buttigieg reprimanded the Labour Party, which prides itself with being the workers’ party, for becoming a “house of thieves and fraudsters”.
He gave the example of Film Commissioner Johann Grech who spent €500,000 on a short film, which “self-promoted” him and said that now Scicluna will pocket €11,000 monthly to do nothing. He added that this is an added expense for taxpayers who must also fund the person to replace him in his post.