The Labour Party fully supported the upcoming national protest against the water and electricity tariffs organised by 11 unions and would join in, leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday.

The unions organising the protest enjoyed the PL's full support and Dr Muscat yesterday called for everyone to attend the manifestation on February 28 in Valletta.

The protest - called by Għaqda Unions Maltin (an organisation of Maltese unions, including the General Workers' Union) - will call on MPs to think about the estimated extra burden of €81 million the new utility rates will place on families before they cast their vote at the end of a parliamentary debate on the tariffs.

Addressing a political activity in Msida, Dr Muscat spoke about Labour's motion presented in Parliament for the revocation of a legal notice that brought the new utility tariffs into force.

The tariffs were undermining employment and would lead the country to lose its competitiveness. "This is why we are taking such a strong stand against the government on the tariffs," he said.

No major changes ensued after last week's Cabinet reshuffle, Dr Muscat said. "Why? Did something happen? I don't think anything happened in Cabinet," he said to a laughing audience.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was afraid of making any changes, a sentiment echoed by hardcore Nationalist supporters and backbenchers. Instead, Dr Muscat said, Dr Gonzi had given Parliament a two-week holiday.

He said it was ironic the two-week break in Parliament should come just before the long-awaited planning authority Bill was about to be discussed. "The instability of Dr Gonzi's government was made clear. If he was certain of his government's stability, Parliament wouldn't have stopped for two weeks," he said.

The PL's economic vision was totally different from that of the Nationalist government. "We believe it is through cutting taxes that we can fund the social services and not, as the government believes, by increasing the burden."

Dr Muscat made several indirect references to Dr Gonzi's recent visit to Paris to meet architect Renzo Piano about the Valletta regeneration plans, criticising the expense at a time when people were barely making ends meet.

"If you are worried about the situation, you don't go to Paris to see how you're going to waste more money. If people are worried about how they are going to survive or pay the bills, then you don't spend money on other things."

Reacting to Dr Muscat's comments, the Finance Ministry said the government promised to give financial aid to 97 per cent of Maltese families to compensate for the international price of oil.

The Nationalist Party said Dr Muscat considered the GWU as a pawn, which was a role the union was comfortable with.

The PL and the GWU were partners and would soon take to the streets in yet another manifestation of militancy, regardless of Dr Muscat's promise of a new beginning, the PN said.

Dr Muscat's argument that the new Valletta projects were a waste of money was mediocre and superficial. The works would generate economic activity both before and after the construction phase.

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