Muscat absent from OPM Budget debate

Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat did not take part in the 10-and-a-half-hour Budget debate on the Estimates of the Office of the Prime Minister, which started on Monday and continued yesterday.

It was the first time in recent history that the Leader of the Opposition did not speak during the debate on the ministry he directly shadows. Dr Muscat spoke only during his general reply to the Budget speech last week. A spokesman for the Labour Party said that, given the time allocated for the Budget debate was limited, Dr Muscat's two-hour speech last week was sufficient and he had a very well-prepared team who could speak on the various sectors of the Office of the Prime Minister.

The opposition speeches were made by Karmenu Vella, Leo Brincat, Helena Dalli, Stefan Buontempo, Roderick Galdes, Gino Cauchi, Alfred Sant, Marie-Louise Coleiro and Joe Debono Grech.