MLP 'consistent' on liberalisation - Muscat
Gesture by Parliamentary Secretary de Marco praised
Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that last week’s transport strike revealed the consistency of the Labour Party and the inconsistency of the Nationalist Party.
While speaking in Gzira, Dr Muscat revealed correspondence he sent to the European Commission in December 2006 where he called for the liberalisation of the hearses sector.
In contrast, the Nationalist Party never said anything about liberalisation of the transport sector before the general election. Indeed, former minister Jesmond Mugliett has confirmed that before the election he had reached agreement for the hearses sector not to be liberalized.
Dr Muscat said the MLP was in favour of liberalisation which benefited consumers.
He recalled that he had appealed to the Transport Federation not to strike and for the two sides to hold talks. Alas, four days had been wasted for the economy and now the talks were taking place. He asked, however, on what criteria had the government agreed to allocate €230,000 in assistance to the Hearses Association.
Dr Muscat said the MLP condemned all the violence which had taken place. The MLP fully backed the gesture made by Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco who had personally met students who witnessed an attack on their coach. That, Dr Muscat said, was a “wise and positive move.
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In Discussion
12 Comments
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Martin Büttner
Jul 21st 2008, 08:14
Mr Muscat was very quiet during the strike. Afterwards everyone is wiser and has something to say.
Consistency or not, the consumers now want to know what price they have to pay for the liberalisation agreement between the government and the public transport federation.
MLP should ask this in parliament!
Otherwise: Where is the opposition?
And don't forget: a government is only as good as the opposition.
R Galea
Jul 21st 2008, 01:13
Seems like Joe is trying to take credit for something the government did.
Someone give him a star, maybe he'll stop whining.
Pauline Barbara
Jul 20th 2008, 22:36
@ T. Mifsud - Are you aware that when Joseph Muscat was talking in favour of liberalisation - Austin Gatt accused him of being against liberalisation, hence Joseph Muscats' statement so if anyone was making a political issue out of it, it was Austin Gatt by making false allegations, which tend to jar when we hear Jesmond Mugliett confirm he had sent the hearse owners a letter stating their buisness would not be liberalised and said statement was endorsed by PN.
J.Tonna
Jul 20th 2008, 22:17
However, Hon Joe Mizzi, a prominent MP in the Labour Party, was reported to have said in parliament that had they wanted they would have paralised Malta, but they chose not to do it. As if he wants us to thank them. Was this some sort of agenda?
Mark Abela
Jul 20th 2008, 22:08
I think Joe Muscat and Labour in general should make their position on issues much more clear before it is all over, not twist and turn around it or stay quiet, then come out afterwards saying it was right all along.
Mr. Muscat, take a stand when the issue is happening not after it is solved.
Charles.j.Schembri
Jul 20th 2008, 21:57
T Misud, one honestly cannot understand you at all.....now he is politicizing the issue....if he said nothing then he would not be helping the PN government....please make up your mind.........
A Mifsud
Jul 20th 2008, 21:54
"He recalled that he had appealed to the Transport Federation not to strike and for the two sides to hold talks." If that is not sitting on the fence then I don't know what is. They were already on strike when he issued his 'appeal'. When the strike was called I seem to recall Austin Gatt appealing to the PTA to call off the strike and then sit around the table? So what is Joseph Muscat recalling? The same as the governing Nats!!
He wrote to the EU commission - clever boy....while the PN were implementing liberalisation - not just in transport but in every aspect of the economy. It is EU law to dismantle monopolies. What Joseph Muscat has failed to do is to tell us what and how.
We can see that we will have 5 years of Joseph Muscat stating the obvious and not taking any position - watch him - and that is not fresh air but opportunist even money gambling!
Put your money where your mouth is......where's the beef?
M.Buhagiar
Jul 20th 2008, 20:59
@ T. Mifsud .
This is not a question of politicizing the issue or not
It is a matter of CONSISTENCY . Before the elections promising one thing and than after , doing another.
By any chance ... Was the promise made by ex Minister Mugliett ( remember him ? ) to the hearses i.e. not to liberalise , one of the 300+ promises ???
Keep it up JOSEPH !!
Frank Attard
Jul 20th 2008, 20:16
I have lost all interest in Maltese politics. However having heard Joseph Muscat approving of Mario Demarco's initiative caught me by surprise. I will start following this guy.
Ethelbert Schembri
Jul 20th 2008, 19:46
That is consistency with proof , and positive attitude.
Everyone on this island needed fresh air to breath and you are giving us lungful of air!!
Well-done Dr Muscat
T Mifsud
Jul 20th 2008, 19:04
Why are you politicizing the issue Dr Muscat? Even as most comments called for a national unity on the issue suddenly you're politicizing it. I think it's a mistake.
Denis Catania
Jul 20th 2008, 19:02
Joseph Muscat call for an investigation? On why so little arrests. Me as a PN supporter feels that there is some kind of cover up. This might be your future office they attacked.