Anyone following current affairs knows that the issues regarding international food and oil prices have been on the global agenda for many months now. Nobody can claim it was classified information.

Furthermore, forward-looking officials within the Public Service had long ago alerted policymakers about developments that, unfortunately, did not fail to materialise.

All this was definitely common knowledge long before March 8.

In other words, when it was drafting its electoral manifesto, the Nationalist Party knew exactly what reality it would be operating in if it won - as it did - the general election.

Thus, Lawrence Gonzi does not have any excuse not to implement the hundreds of pledges he made during the electoral campaign. Surely, he cannot cite the food and oil situations as excuses. He knew about them all along.

Dr Gonzi has to implement all his promises. Failure to do otherwise would equate to admitting he took people for a ride.


It is ironic how the Nationalist government changed its policy with regards to wheat subsidies in just a couple of months.

Only a few months ago it decided that it would fork out the difference to bakers in order not to have consumers pay more for their daily bread. The government heaped itself with self-praise on a decision, it said, that reflected its social conscience.

A few months down the line, the same government decided to liberalise bread prices, adding a half-baked pledge to give some assistance to an unspecified number of families.

This time round, the government pitched the message of "inevitability" of such a step being taken.

An outside observer would be forgiven for questioning such a drastic change in policy, unless s/he notices that there was a general election in between.


Last November, during his Budget Speech, Lawrence Gonzi whipped up excitement on his government's "commitment" to the environment and first-time house buyers.

He spoke about schemes to help buy environment-friendly white goods and more subsidies to help young couples in the face of rising property prices.

The pledges were further stressed in the Nationalist Party's electoral manifesto.

Two months down the line, both incentives have been discontinued. Frankly speaking, talk of "scheme restructuring" and "lack of funds" are non-starters.

But, then again, we were told that "everything is possible".


As part of the programme of the French Presidency of the European Union, two French organisations, the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the Association Francaise des Petits Débrouillards (AFPD), are luring to France 500 young Europeans to develop recommendations on the European Knowledge-Based Society.

No particular qualifications are necessary and people with different experiences, training and abilities are welcome. All expenses will be covered by the organisers. If you are between 18 and 24 years of age and interested, contact the National Youth Council on info@knz.org.mt by May 31.

Further information can be obtained from www.mcst.org.mt/news.aspx?nid=91.

Dr Muscat is a Labour member of the European Parliament and vice president of the economic and monetary affairs committee.

www.josephmuscat.com

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