Labour leader Joseph Muscat this evening made seven proposals which he said would counter the rising cost of living.

Addressing the thousands of people who turned up for a national manifestation against the cost of living, organised by the Labour Party, Dr Muscat said the proposals were to:

• Invest in alternative energy;
• Introduce transparency in the purchasing of oil;
• Reduce dependency on oil and switch the new power station from heavy fuel oil to gas;
• Introduce more transparency in the calculation of water and electricity bills;
• Increase competitiveness in the energy sector;
• Take concrete action against the unjustified price increases; and
• Assist all families, rather than just 25,000.

The people present for the protest complained about not being able to keep up with the rising costs and about the ministers’ 600 euro pay rise.

Some of the protesters carried placards, many of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with Facebook’s dislike sign. Others had comments about the lack of social justice, such as Fejn marret il-Gustizzja Socjali?

Dr Muscat told those present:

“If you trust us with the administration of the country, I will be there carrying the burden with you and helping you.”

He accused the government of having its priorities wrong.

“For the government it is a priority to have a new Parliament and a roofless theatre but for us the priority is to increase the number of beds at Mater Dei Hospital.

“Only a vote to the Labour Party only can change things around,” he said.

Dr Muscat complained about the rising costs and pointed out that people who earned more than 17,000 euros and were under a certain age were now also paying a higher national insurance.

The choice workers were given was to either to accept inferior conditions or lose their jobs, he said.

“I did not come here to complain but to show you that there is a ray of hope.”

Referring to ministers’ double pay and 600 euro a week increase, Dr Muscat said the decision was taken two months after the election but Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi did not have the courage to tell families because at the time he was telling them to make sacrifices.

Although the government was ready to spend so much money on ministers’ increases, it failed to find the funds for more essential needs, he said.

PN STATEMENT

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said Dr Muscat did not promise that a Labour government would reduce tariffs.

The Labour leader was only promising to follow 1970s/1980s Labour model when Malta suffered:

• Major unemployment;

• Major increases in the cost of fuels;

• Major cost of living increases and a scarcity of essential products, including of water and electricity;

• Major corruption; and

• Shoddy infrastructure.