MLP activity today is 'manifestation', not a protest
Labour leader Joseph Muscat has insisted today's gathering in Valletta is a manifestation, not a protest.
Dr Muscat yesterday said the event would give the MLP the opportunity to put forward its "ideas" about water and electricity rates.
The Labour leader said the manifestation, which takes place at 3.30 p.m., aimed to instil courage and hope in people who may be weighed down by the government's new water and electricity tariffs.
He said this was a national activity open to people of all political beliefs. However, last Friday, social partners - who have harshly criticised the tariffs - declared they will not be attending as they perceived it to be a politicised activity.
A number of social partner representatives said they believed such manifestations would not solve anything. The Nationalist Party has criticised the MLP for slating the new tariffs without making any proposals itself.
Addressing an annual general meeting for Labour veterans, Dr Muscat said the party's parliamentary group met to discuss the budget yesterday morning.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
In Discussion
11 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
P.Schembri
Nov 9th 2008, 20:41
@J.Agius. Of course the PM said that there is a crisis on the horizon. The one he brought upon us himself. Pre-electorally, the PN was assuming that the MLP will win the election, so he was preparing us for the increasing deficit (which he left us) and the monstrous 4 billion euro debt. But of course fate had other things ready, and the PN was re-elected. So there is the crisis, the PN's own creating. As to the one real crisis, instead of harnessing itself against it, the Government is weakening more the economy with all the taxes he can invent. I think that is the only truth the PM said before the election. All the there were either lies, or half-truths
Joseph E Briffa
Nov 9th 2008, 19:21
Whether one calls this afternoon's event a protest, or manifestation, or demonstration is to my mind immaterial. In a democratic country like ours there is absolutely nothing wrong in holding a peaceful demonstration or whatever. On the other hand everybody is entitled to their opinion about the way they view this event. The important thing is that everything is done in a peaceful manner, not like when back in the 1980s people who were protesting against the lack of water in their pipes were beaten up as they did not get police protection. Democracy was not the forte of the government of that day. Luckily today we can protest, manifest, demonstrate, say what we like and nobody is threatened or worse still beaten up. This is democracy. Having said that, I feel that retaining subsidies is dangerous as we will carry on wasting energy. On the other hand if we have to pay for the full cost of production, we become more disciplined and more responsible and we will endeavour not to waste energy and fuel. During the last two decades, most people have taken fore granted the good things of life and thriftiness is not in their vocabulary
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 9th 2008, 19:06
Joseph Agius..I guess it is up to others to decide if you suffer from selective hearing.
Yes, I also recall Gonzi saying that a crisis is on the horizon...which makes his plethora of promises stranger, would'nt you of neutral and objective disposition agree?
As to Government spending, and how this spiralled out of control just before the last election...well...thats an argument for another day...
lGalea
Nov 9th 2008, 18:49
The mind only boggles on how some people can be taken for a ride over and over again by Gonzipn.
V.Micallef
Nov 9th 2008, 17:43
@Jospeh Agius
So you heard him say he would send electricity bills sky high? That he would savagely let fuel prices to soar? That he would add more taxes on all of us. Could you kindly quote chapter and verse? We're most curious.
Joseph Agius
Nov 9th 2008, 15:41
Of course my mind does not boggle to what the PM said in March and what he is saying now. I distinctly heard he was saying that crisis is in the horizon. But then I do not select what I hear. And my enlightened thinking has assured me that Malta made the right choice. Just imagine the disaster and mess if we did not have the Euro.......and I surely do not remember the PM say we should not have the Euro.....although I do remember someone who is organising the manifestation/protest who actually did!!!!!!!!! A case of bad judgement?
J Sammut
Nov 9th 2008, 14:34
@Joseph Agius
I don't think the labour party is victim here. I think the victims are those who will slide into fuel poverty. Maybe you don't count yourself amongst this group Joseph, good luck to you, maybe that is why you 'afford' to take a partisan outlook on this and 'worry' about PN and MLP public perception. I'm sure there are others out there who's worries are about whether they will be affording their fuel bills and their cars. It is here that one would have wanted to rely on the social partners to tow the line, given that they agree with the MLP on this! It seems to be a case of: 'I disagree with PN, but I cannot get myself to agree with MLP'. Well, we couldn't call them partners then could we, even if they fail to agree when they agree.
Jeremy J Camilleri
Nov 9th 2008, 13:12
Joseph Agius...Maybe your mind should boggle as to what our PM was saying in March, and what he is saying now....
Surely, your enlightened brain can think about both issues...
Joseph Agius
Nov 9th 2008, 12:41
Yes why is everyone against labour? always victims of the social partners, victims of the media, victims of the weather, victims of bad judgement, victims of their own supporters. Very unfortunate indeed!
V.Micallef
Nov 9th 2008, 11:41
Yes, let us manifest courage in the open. Let the "social partners" manifest their despair in the dark. Whoever expected them to join in manifesting courage? Did they ever have any courage? What they have always manifested, both in the open and in their backrooms was a lackey sort of attitude towards rightist parties. End of story.
Joseph Agius
Nov 9th 2008, 10:58
so why did anglu farrugia and charles mangion say it is a protest???? the mind boggles!