The Labour Party yesterday welcomed the Finance Ministry's "satisfying" statement, albeit belated, on the sound situation of the local banks, saying the party was "totally on the same wavelength in the national interest".
Speaking in Qrendi, Labour leader Joseph Muscat, however, pointed out the contrast between other "serious" countries and the government's "irresponsibility" in tackling the unprecedented international economic situation.
While other governments were bailing out the economy and families, in Malta it was the economy and families that were bailing out the government, Dr Muscat said. In a time of turmoil, the government itself was causing the crisis, he continued.
The government's methodology raised many questions, Dr Muscat said, referring to the launch of the pre-budget document, which was steeped in pomp, ceremony and expense but excluded the all-important electricity and water tariffs.
"What is the point of consulting on everything bar this crucial point for the country's economy?"
In the coming days, the opposition will be issuing a critical analysis on the government's tariff proposals and a strategy on energy.
Statistics, he said, showed that the impact would be greater than the government's prediction that every family's bill would increase by between €1.5 and €5 a week - "already a major blow for many". Dr Muscat invited the government to have the courage to correct its figures, warning: "If you do not, we will tell the country the truth ourselves".
Referring to his trip to Libya last week, Dr Muscat described it as a "breakthrough" and a "positive surprise" in that the agreement to form a committee on the Mediterranean and another on energy, which the opposition had originally set out to merely start discussing, was actually concluded and signed.
The idea was to draw up a strategy on energy with Libya over the coming years. But Dr Muscat said the MLP was also ready to pass it on to the government if it were completed earlier so that it could be used for the benefit of the country.
He thanked former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff for his assistance and augured that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who would soon be travelling to Libya to conclude a number of agreements, would also keep the country's interests in mind.
Dr Muscat appealed to the government to pass a Bill on climate change and vote for legislation that would bind Malta to protect the environment despite the fact that it was not legally bound to take measures on the issue.
He insisted that Malta had the political and moral duty, if not legal, to act on climate change, set an example and show that a small country could also be a leader.
His speech was punctuated by comments on what he considered to be the new role of the opposition, which was characterised, primarily, by a positive mentality.
The MLP would be highlighting things that in its opinion were bad but would also speak up when things were good or could improve, Dr Muscat said of the new style of politics he was after, which was likely to shock some.
The MLP is celebrating its 88th anniversary this week and an exhibition on the salient episodes over the years, which opens at the party headquarters in Ħamrun on Wednesday, is being aimed at the MLP rediscovering its values and roots.