Cynthia Busuttil
PM has lost EU's trust - Muscat
Labour leader Joseph Muscat addressing yesterday's meeting.
The Prime Minister has not only lost the people's trust but also that of the EU, Labour leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday.
Dr Muscat said the European Commission had disagreed with the government's economic growth and deficit estimates for this year and 2010, and instead gave a bleaker picture.
"The EU no longer believes Lawrence Gonzi," he said during a party activity in which the party formally presented its 12 candidates for June's European Parliament elections.
While the government has predicted an economic growth of 2.2 per cent for this year and 2.5 per cent next year, the EU has set this at 0.7 per cent and 1.3 per cent.
"This shows that the Nationalist Party's estimates are not credible, not for the Maltese nor for Europeans. We are not the only ones not to believe Lawrence Gonzi - nor do Europeans," he insisted.
He also spoke about the controversy surrounding the proposed underground extension of St John's Co-Cathedral museum on which Labour will be tabling a motion in Parliament.
Dr Muscat said that while his party was in favour of a museum it should not cost €16 million, and insisted that having a restored Palazzo would cost less than the extension beneath the Cathedral being proposed.
He accused the government of lack of consultation on the matter and also on the recently published waste management strategy, unveiled last week. He said the strategy had already identified where the new pre-treatment plants will be, rather than putting this up for consultation.
Last Friday the government unveiled its waste management strategy, which will include building an incinerator at Delimara and two pre-treatment plants, one in Għallis and another in Gozo. The Sant'Antnin plant will continue to take in a third of local waste, with the rest treated at Għallis and Gozo at the new plant on the island.
But Dr Muscat said the plant in Gozo is between the only two localities - Sannat and Xewkija - with a Labour majority.
"We want to know what studies were carried out to choose these localities. Rather than Environmental Impact Assessments, voting impact assessments are more likely to have been carried out," he said.
The Resources Ministry reacted later to this point, saying the government has published a document drafted by a number of experts for public consultation over the next eight weeks.
Resources Minister George Pullicino also met PL environment spokesman Leo Brincat, the Local Councils Association and environment organisations before launching the document.
Speaking about the situation in hospitals which was recently highlighted by the Ombudsman in a damning report on waiting lists for operations, Dr Muscat promised that Labour MEPs would fight for patients' rights.
When the European Parliament discusses patient mobility, he said, they will be insisting on establishing timeframes for surgery. If the state is unable to provide surgery within the established timeframes, patients will have the right to be treated privately or abroad.
"This might cost money, but waiting also costs money," he said, adding that while Social Policy Minister John Dalli - who has described the waiting lists as "scandalous" - might be able to blame his predecessor, Dr Gonzi can only blame himself. Dr Muscat described the party's team of candidates for June's European Parliament's elections as "exceptional", a thought echoed by Labour foreign affairs spokesman George Vella.
Dr Vella said European Socialists were keen to win the election because, more than ever before, the EU needed a leadership based on progressive socialist and social democratic principles.
"As progressive socialists we believe that we should not let the EU be led by conservatives, whose open market beliefs have led to the disaster and crisis that we are currently in," he said, referring to the current global economic crisis.
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C. Muscat
Jan 27th 2009, 12:04
After 16 years of Socialist Government The following PN minister said 'Money No Problem'. After 20 years of NP government with only part of the payments (eg pharmateutical in arrears in millions) the EU is sceptic about maltese accounts. I hope no one is dreaming again about a bridge between Malta and Gozo.
Once the alternative issue presented by the MLP was not accepted by the nation; let us all discuss what was approved even if for example the hunters were deluded.
lgalea
Jan 27th 2009, 08:46
Jos Vella
No need to Joe.
Have a look at the budget deficit for the last five years and you will see whether the Commission or Gonzipn's forecasts were correct. You will see who's credible and who can be trusted more than the other.
Alexander Morana
Jan 26th 2009, 19:05
"As progressive socialists we believe that we should not let the EU be led by conservatives, whose open market beliefs have led to the disaster and crisis that we are currently in," he said, referring to the current global economic crisis.
hahahah Hah ha Ha! Dr. Vella has squalid socialists ever been progressive? I think he meant destructive?
S Cassar
Jan 26th 2009, 17:12
Is that Sharon Ellul Bonici that I see in the background?
Wasn't sh, up to a few weeks ago, staunchly against EU membership?
And is that Joseph Cuschieri and Maria Camillleri on Joseph's left hand side?
Weren't they also vociferously against EU membership?
Isn't that Glenn Bedingfield on Joseph's right?
He too was at the forefront against EU membership wasn't he?
Who is the lady in red boots?
Peter Vella
Jan 26th 2009, 12:01
S Cassar. So Labour can never mention the EU because once it favour another form of relationship with the EU rather than full membership. Following your logic, PN females should not vote because PN vehemntly opposed female suffrage up to the 1940s. Nationalists should not use their pension becuase the PN used to say that the elderly would use their pensions to get drunk etc. etc. etc.
JM is inexperienced and Gonzi was afraid to face him in a public debate in Freedom Square last week....just imagine if JM was experienced, would Gonzi run away from the country? lol
Alex Spiteri
Jan 26th 2009, 11:25
@john portelli...yes, malta needs a real opposition and a real alternative to the MLPN gang. the people are crying for a representation of their voice in the political arena. None of MLPN and ADAN represent the views and concerns of ordinary citizens. they only talk and fight about petty issues. currently there's a continuous battle for example on environment and climate change between MLPN. how can these people ever talk about the environment when they are solely responsible for raping this beautiful island and turning it into a jungle of concrete in less than 40years of their reign!
however mr portelli, it is time to stop dreaming and waiting a new political movement to come from the sky. it is time to get real!
S Cassar
Jan 26th 2009, 10:49
LOOK WHOSE TALKING ABOUT THE EU!!
JOSEPH WAS, A FEW YEARS AGO, A STAUNCH ANTI-EU MEMBERSHIP ADVOCATE AND DID HIS VERY BEST TO CONVINCE THE MALTESE TO OPT FOR THE SWITZERLAND IN THE MED OPTION!
HE EVEN WROTE AN ARTICLE (ACTUALLY HE WROTE HUNDREDS OF ARTCILES) DESCRIBING EU MEMBERSHIP AS 'IS-SALIB TAL-MILLENJU'
DOES JOSEPH THINK THAT THE MALTESE ARE SO NAIVE AND GULLIBLE?
JOSEPH'S INEXPERIENCE IS, DAY BY DAY, BECOMING EVEN MORE WORRYING!
lgalea
Jan 26th 2009, 10:43
John Portelli
Totally agree with you
Anthony Mercieca
Jan 26th 2009, 10:10
It appears that with Dr. Muscat logic not only Malta (i.e. PM) is not credible due to revised economic growth projections but the whole of the EU. Who knows it is a pity that he does not get the slip of UK PM that he has the solution to save the world economy!!!! It was really good to get Gonzi back in such world economic upheavel.
Jos Vella
Jan 26th 2009, 10:07
Dr Muscat, don't take me wrong, but I prefer to hear this from the EU maybe on euronews. With all due respect your message may have got the attention of 52% of the maltese population perhaps the people on your side (laborites) and some of the floating voters.
If the EU comes up with such a public statement I would say the the hit rate of maltese people to start having concerns about the present government would be 70%+ which will be even better for your party. Think about it
John Portelli
Jan 26th 2009, 10:03
I lost all hope in Gonzi and Labour a long time ago and I MEAN 10 YEARS AGO.What Malta needs is a National Socialist Movement,to liberate the people minds,to secure the existance of our people and a future for Maltese children.And to liberate Malta from illigal immigration,start a cancer research program,Introduce clean natural energy,The only thing these parties are doing is creating RIVALRY,between people and no solutions to VERY SERIOUS PROBLEMS...NO MORE VOTES FOR REDS OR BLUE NEVER AGAIN