Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said Thursday that Prime Minister Robert Abela and Finance Minister Clyde Caruana are not only "immoral" by keeping the tax on the Cost-Of-Living-Adjustment, but also tried attacking this just measure the PN is decisive on implementing.
Grech was speaking during an interview on NET TV when he said that over the past two years, the PN has built a coalition in agreement with social partners all around the country, who called for the COLA not to be taxed.
"It is evident that the Finance Minister has understood that not only what we are saying makes sense, but that the public agrees with us," Grech said.
He slammed Abela for continuing to steal from the public through taxing the COLA. Grech said the people have the right to the full COLA.
Grech said that the two largest unions in the country - the General Workers Union (GWU) and the UHM Voice of the Workers, and all constituted bodies agree that the COLA should not be taxed, and the PN pushed it.
"Government tried to ignore this, ignore us, and when they realised that what we're saying is true, Caruana and Abela tried attacking this 'just' measure that we are decisive on implementing. We would remove the tax from the COLA so that you can enjoy the full increase," Grech said.
He was asked about the "blatant propaganda" on the national broadcaster, PBS, where Grech said that government is abusing public funds as it is using taxpayer money in the most partisan way, to "sell his product, as if the product was what the public needed," referring to ads about the Budget government broadcasted the night before.
Grech said that the Maltese public told government back in June of this year that it wants solutions to traffic problems, infrastructure, the higher cost of living and emptying drainage into the sea.
"The Budget 2025 does not solve these issues. The government is also breaking the law by continuing to advertise these adverts even after we took action and the Court ordered that these are not broadcasted until the case is heard," Grech said.
He said that the Labour government challenged the Court's order, because it is one "which does whatever it wants," and only listens to its own version, despite the Court order.
"We will remain vigilant, as the Court had heard the PN before when it found that PBS breached the PN's rights. We will continue safeguarding the public's and the party's rights," Grech said, adding that the PN will not let government abuse of public funds.
He spoke of the various reactions by unions, constituted bodies and organisations which said that while the Budget for 2025 has some positive measures, it is not good enough.
"Almost all social partners say it is not enough, and the Budget betrays the needs of the most vulnerable in the country," Grech said.
He continued that Budget 2025 does not address people's issues, especially for families with children with disabilities, who, while they were promised aid measures in the Budget, these are still insignificant compared to the outstanding costs.
Grech also mentioned the pensions debacle, where he said that government is adding a year of social contributions one would need to collect to be able to receive the pension.
He likened the measure to that of former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's "repeater-class" measure, adding that government has betrayed the public.