Labour leader Joseph Muscat claimed yesterday that a government memo proposing a reform of the primary healthcare system effectively meant that medical services would not remain free for everyone.
The claim was immediately denied by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who, in turn, accused the Opposition Leader of wanting to disrupt the agreement reached with doctors on Friday.
Dr Muscat pointed out that the memo was presented to Cabinet by Social Policy Minister John Dalli in what seemed to be a repeat of a similar move made before the last election and which had caused a big stir during the campaign.
"Gonzi's biggest lie has been exposed and healthcare will not remain free after June 6," Dr Muscat said. The Labour Party (PL) would oppose such a move, he strongly insisted.
Dr Muscat was addressing PL supporters gathered under the tent at Ta' Qali for the only mass meeting held in this European Parliament electoral campaign.
Taking a leaf out of his party's latest billboard campaign, Dr Muscat accused the Prime Minister of losing control of his party, public finances and the country.
People were working more but earning less and Dr Gonzi's solution was to send higher water and electricity bills, he said.
Referring to official statistics Dr Muscat said that, over six months, unemployment had increased by 31 per cent. This situation not only caused problems for people who lost their jobs but also to those who had a job because they were being asked to accept lower working conditions.
Referring to police investigations into allegations of corruption at the VAT Department, Dr Muscat reiterated the call he had been making since the beginning of the campaign for the government to openly say how extensive the corruption was and who would shoulder political responsibility.
On illegal immigration he said the PL's stand last year asking the government not to sign the EU pact on immigration because it only spoke of burden sharing on a voluntary basis had been vindicated.
He spoke of the "unacceptable" situation in Marsa where, on a daily basis, immigrants loitered in the streets waiting for someone to offer them a job, which many a times turned out to be illegal, cheap labour.
He again referred to the last boat of illegal immigrants that landed in Marsalforn and asked the government to explain how a boat coming from the south ended up entering Malta's northern shores.
Dr Muscat criticised the government's decision to purchase new turbines for the Delimara power station that used heavy fuel oil instead of the cleaner gas alternative. "Not only will Dr Gonzi be forking out more money to purchase old technology but he will also be polluting the air. At this rate we should not be amazed with statistics that show how the south has the highest rates of asthma and cancer," he said.
Dr Muscat insisted this was not the Malta people had voted for when they chose EU membership.
"Dr Gonzi expressed surprise because neither BirdLife nor the hunters trusted him. Indeed, nobody trusts him anymore because he misled a lot of people," Dr Muscat said.
Turning to the Labour grassroots, Dr Muscat said they should welcome with open arms those who showed an interest in the party because a new coalition of people from various walks of life was being born.
Nonetheless, he reiterated that the European Parliament election was a difficult one for the PL and asked his supporters to turn out in droves on June 6. "Give us the strength to send a message to the country that a new dawn is possible," he said, concluding his speech as red, blue and white balloons were released.
The Nationalist Party accused Dr Muscat of being unethical in trying to gain political mileage out of national concerns such as health and illegal immigration. It insisted that in the energy sector, had the government gone for the technology proposed by Dr Muscat, electricity bills would have had to increase by between 30 and 75 per cent.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com