Wednesday, 14th May 2008 - 09:09CET
Muscat proposes priorities for society, Labour government
Labour leadership candidate Joseph Muscat today published a document with proposals which he said could be adopted to launch a new political season and make Malta "the best in Europe".
He said his vision was to see Maltese society becoming the most dynamic in Europe, achieving the highest environmental, economic and social standards and allowing space for everyone to succeed.
He said that for a new political season to dawn, the opposition, which represented half the people, needed to be respected and consulted throughout the legislature.
Political discrimination needed to be replaced by meritocracy. For a start, the government should implement the decisions of the Tribunal Against Injustices and the Ombudsman.
State broadcasting should to be reformed so that it could guarantee balance and win respect.
A Joint Parliamentary Committee should be formed to plan and manage the use of EU Structural Funds given to Malta.
Party funding laws should be introduced to ensure transparency in this sector.
The Electoral Law should be updated to current realities and a law should be enacted to control government activities during an electoral campaign, to avoid abuse.
He said the MLP, when in government, should have the following priorities:
For the environment, it should aim for the highest European standards, with priorities being given to reducing pollution, sustainable development, a climate change strategy and investment in clean energy.
In education, national consensus should be sought for measures to ensure that all students have basic skills, as well as to achieve and surpass the Lisbon Strategy targets.
In economic affairs, every incentive should be given for growth, while safeguarding consumer rights. Measures could include tax cuts, reduction of bureaucracy and government-induced costs, sustainable public expenditure and incentives for job creation.
Dr Muscat said social justice should remain a Labour priority so that everybody could benefit from economic growth, and so living standards could rise for all sectors.
Job creation and full employment had to be a priority and working conditions, even those of non-unionised workers, had to be protected. There needed to be a proper balance between work and family.
Public health care services had to be the best, with the accent placed on preventive care, and free of charge.
Dr Muscat said civil rights needed to be strengthened, not least the rights of minorities.
Information Technology needed to be accessible to all, and access to the Internet should be considered as a basic right.
Dr Muscat said Malta needed to have ongoing dialogue between civil society, NGOs and local councils, with the role of the councils for sustainable development being strengthened. The councils could be given a role in making recommendations before laws were approved by Parliament.
He said Malta also needed to spend more on cultural appreciation and sports.
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Comments
Look at the froth coming out of their mouths.
Look at the way they fear a Leader like you.
Look at the frenzy they go into when they know that they will soon be ousted out of power well before the 5 years are over.
Hail this new HONEST man of substance!
We all can read, we know exactly what Joseph Muscat is saying. The problem is that Joseph Muscat is 10 years to late.
Perhaps if Joseph Muscat didn't do his outmost to keep malta out of the EU, Malta is already there. Ten years lost. cause of Joseph Muscat and others like minded people in the MLP.
That is akk the difference?
To add insult to injury, Muscat would later perform a 360 degree U turn by converting from a Eurosceptic to a staunch Europhile. St Paul's conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus pales into insignificance when compared to Muscat's sudden change of heart. By making ample use of the coverage and popularity achieved through his vitriolically anti-EU membership Super One TV programme "Made in Brussels", Muscat managed to get elected MEP with the highest number of votes from among the Labour contestants. No wonder!! How's that for a wonderfully executed set piece of political opportunism!
I wonder by what stretch of fertile imagination can Muscat plan to turn Malta into "the best in Europe." He is presently criticising the PN Administration for the economic disasters they have caused to the Maltese people even though he is well aware that the spiralling cost of crude oil and cereals cannot be placed at Gonzi's door. Most probably he would turn out to become such a gradiose, enigmatic and charismatic Prime Minister at 39 that his "dream" objectives would miraculously fall into place notwithstanding any economic recession world economies might be passing through during his premiership.
I do not know whether to laugh or what at your commnet. PN supporters are jealous, last time I cheked who is sitting at Castille was told that it was a certain Dr. Gonzi leader of the PN.
My friend, wht ever comes out of your beloved MLP, KEEP IT PLEESE, cause all that comes is bickering and confusion. The odd time that something good comes out, It is sood revealed that it is already been implemented or in the process of being so. But I guess for Labour better late or nothing.
Joseph Muscat said many a time that he would like Malta to be the "best in Europe." This means that he wants us to strive to be top-notch in every social, economic, environmental and cultural aspect possible. Not just an EU member state on paper that is trailing behind everyone else. A very ambitious project if you ask me but one that's sorely needed.
On the other hand on the GonziPn manifesto there arae lot of promises of which we have no guarantee that they will be done. There are some of them which have been recycled for the last 20 years and never materialised. Also, 2 main promises stated in the GonziPN manifesto have already been broken...let me remind you:
1) (159) Rebates on energy efficient appliances will be sustained....No way.... promise expires 31st may 2008.
2) Income Tax cuts to boost economy...No way, this week Gonzi iterated that this won't happen.
Dr. Muscat at least has the guts to speak about minorities and that he is promising to provide laws for their rights too as it should be. Let me remind you again, when in the EU parliament the issue of homophobia was raised and MEP's were asked to cast their vote on such issue to be discussed in this parliament, Maltese PN MEP David Casa voted against. Joe Muscat and the rest of the Labour MEP's voted in favour. Now make your judgement...on facts.
I think that Joseph Muscat stands for change more than any other previous Labour administration that was afraid to discuss issues that in Malta are still unfortunately considered taboo or controversial. I am glad that the Nationalist Party may have already tackled some points that Joseph is talking about but one has to wait and see if they will actually occur. As far as I can recall we were promised that the Ta’Qali crafts village and the old Opera Theatre will be revitalised for many years, if not decades, but this never happened just to mention two examples of ‘floating’ promises. It is convenient for the PN to tackle centre-left issues in order to gain votes but they hardly ever materialise. One also needs to wait and see how fast the Gov introduces what I call the Big Three: FoI Act, Whistleblower Act and Party Financing Act. I wonder if they will introduce them now or a couple of months away from March 2013.
The MLP needs someone to keep up the pressure on the Gov and to keep it accountable; else we will have a disastrous situation in Maltese democracy if the Gov is free to do as it pleases with anyone and anything. The MLP also needs someone to work with the Gov on issues of public/national interest and I’m sure J. Muscat will be that man. Last but not least the MLP needs someone to truly eradicate the party’s EU-scepticism internally and nationally and Muscat’s MEP credentials speak for themselves.
I think it is time for Malta's progressive movement to be heard rather than quashed, censored and ridiculed. On a personal note, I am sick and tired of having to submit to absurd and ultra-conservative values that are dominant on these islands. Recently it had to be the EU to somewhat modernize Malta in this regard. Now we have a Maltese politician that can do the same and better.
Where can I get an autographed one to add to my collection of the impossible dream(ers)?
Which parts of the manifesto would that be?
The reduction of taxes?
The priority to turn 3% of budget deficit into credit?
The priority to reduce the National debt to less then 60% of GDP?
Achieving the highest environmental, economic and social standards?
Why is the Marsa power station still there?
The highest number of asthma sufferers in all the EU, thanks to clean air that we breath? Oh, one never heard of these.
One remembers the following as well.
New entrance to Valletta. New bus terminus. New Royal Theatre. New buses. State of the art roads. State of the art health service. Regeneration of the No1 Dock. Salaries increased according to inflation and therefore in percentage according to ones' salary as other EU countries., and the list goes on and on and on! It actually dates back to 1987!
The fact that this man has already thrown PN supporters into a frenzy speaks volumes.
One is also intrigued by certain blogs which are proof ,that unlike previous Leaders this one has all the qualities to rid us of this minority Govt. in the shortest of time!
A. Farrugia
@anthony mercieca
the fact that some of these proposals are in the gonzipn programme doesn't mean they'll get implemented by the present govt !!!
Of particular interest is the notion of "all students [having] basic skills". In order to "ensure" that all students attain such skills, how about an innovative concept which no nation in the world seems to have had the temerity to introduce. Put all those students, who intend to drop out early, on notice. Make it law that unless they pass a basic numeracy and literacy skills exam, they will not be allowed to leave school. They would be obliged to return to school the next year, rather than being let loose unto society as illiterates. I wish to challenge Joseph Muscat to include such a concept as part of his manifesto. If he had the audacity to do it, then none of his political opponents should be able to take that smile off his face.
Is Joseph Muscat going to finally give some definition to the Labour Party's lack of identity? IS he going to spearhead divorce rights and gay marriage? Is he going to tackle immigration issues and racism?
I sincerely hope he does aim to do all of these things. But I also urge him to speak clearly and openly and to not be like Dr. Sant, afraid to be the leader because people might disagree with him. A leader of the opposition should never say that he is going to wait for the people to ask for divorce. He should create a vision for the country. A European vision, which is a leader in civil liberties not one which is always 40 or so years behind all other countries.
A minority of people in Malta want a division between state and religion, another minority wants laws allowing divorce, still another wants laws allowing abortions. Why is it that most MP's, especially Dr. Muscat evade their opinions on the subject?