Government's problems will not go away on Tuesday - Muscat
Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that the crises that the government was facing would not go away after Tuesday's confidence vote which, he was certain, the government would win.
Dr Muscat said at a political activity in Senglea this morning that the country was crying out for stability because it was only in that way that wealth could be created and distributed fairly. But the government was stumbling from one crisis to another.
Observers were seeing a prime minister more focused on the problems of his political party than the issues facing the people, Dr Muscat said.
He defended the no confidence motion in Transport Minister Austin Gatt, debated in parliament on Friday, and said its purpose was to demand ministerial accountability.
The Prime Minister, he said, had panicked and raised the stakes, making this an issue of collective responsibility. The current situation, therefore, was exclusively the consequence of the prime minister's decision.
Dr Muscat said Dr Gonzi had nailed his colours to the actions of just one person, Austin Gatt, who in his speech in parliament on Friday appeared to put party before country.
The prime minister, Dr Muscat said, was hostage of Austin Gatt.
It was clear that the government would win Tuesday's confidence vote, but Dr Gonzi knew well enough that the crisis he had brought on himself would not go away.
The PN was a party of the few for the few, Dr Muscat said. It had blurred the lines government and party and constitutional principles and correctness had suffered as a result. It was unacceptable that a minister had revealed Cabinet minutes at a PN executive meeting, in breach of the law. The PN General Secretary had also produced a Cabinet document on television.
Dr Muscat recalled how the government found itself in a minority over the Co-Cathedral museum project and had to drop it. Its hand was forced over the issue of legal assistance to people under arrest, and it was embarrassed during the debate on the power tariffs and the power station extension. The government was split in half over divorce. It was red faced over the €500 per week ministerial pay rise, and it was in a corner over the bus reform.
It was almost without precedent that Dr Gonzi last week asked the Opposition not to vote on the no confidence motion - proposing a ministerial committee on the bus reform instead. But the Opposition would not be an accomplice in the government's failure, Dr Muscat said.
That Dr Gonzi was now calling a confidence vote was a drastic measure which showed that he felt himself on thin ice and may not be sure of the backing he had, Dr Muscat said.
The Labour leader also attacked Dr Gatt's record, including his plans to build a new road to Ghadira, the way he had sold Sea Malta and the huge losses made by Malta Shipyards in the Fairmount contracts, the power station extension and the high power tariffs, the issues at Mita, the 'bridge to nowhere' at Grand Harbour and the transfer of prime real estate to GO as part of the Maltacom privatisation, the unkept job promises at SmartCity and the building of the new parliament when funding issues had not been explained.
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John Scerri
Nov 7th 2011, 08:17
At this moment in time i am glad to be living and working in our Malta.
Yes the situation around us is not what one would desire. Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the list goes on.
Our Government could resort to taking decisions which might not be so popular.
The important issue here is for the one and only resource in our country to stay afloat and flourish .
Loss of jobs will surely put our economy in serious danger.
The top Priority for our present government should be the safeguard of employment and reduction of unemployment.
All other issues are further down in the list.
Now I ask Dr.Muscat ...
Given the present situation around Europe ...what are MLP plans to safeguard employment?
Do you have Clear Plans but you will make them public when the time is right?
Yesterday one of MLP MPs said that the opposition is there only to tell the government what is wrong and NOT to give suggestions . - Very Bad attitude which does not reflect interest for the well being of the people but only interest towards militant party goals .
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 6th 2011, 18:34
@Frans H Said: You keep telling Gonzi to wake up. Well, Gonzi is up ok, so awake in fact, that he is running the country pretty well, notwithstanding the Euro and world financial crises that have been around all through these last 4 years now, with hardly any let up. And Gonzi is so good that he is managing the country while having to waste time with whiners who are so young that they even compare PBS today with Dardir Malta's 80s. This team that Gonzi formed in 2008 is one hell of a cabinet that gets things going and if there is something no one can complain about is that Gonzi and his present team have not set on their laurels or shied away from challenges. This is a winning team he has, a team that brought around major changes and yes, that includes the dockyards, the busses, the taxis, Sea Malta and the list goes on. We are not suffering as much as other countries because it is this legislature that brought about these changes and done away with socialist-based parasites that ate away all the investment Malta has been getting these last years. Gonzi said enough with this and went about dismantling them, one by one and the result was not higher unemployment but a more efficient economy. This is Gonzi, this is the Gonzi you have been urging to wake up. God forbid he will end up like Floriana FC, with presidents coming and going after each and every game! These are 'kummiedji' of which you should know a thing or two, and which have no space in PN and the present cabinet. Those things are best left to Joseph who is not even capable to telling us what his plans (if any) are, even 10 months in advance. Some vision he has!
David Mizzi
Nov 7th 2011, 01:02
Gonzi is running the country pretty well you said ??!!
Seems you are not exposed by your 'preferred' media to the words... National Debt.... well let me tell you ... we are at a mere €3.9 BILLION for sure...
And you come here telling us this PM is running the country pretty well... !
That doesn't worry me at all.. because I know your feelings... being burdened by hefty taxes .. left, right & centre everyday...
Actually I don't know why you're so keen to know JM's plans right now ?
Firstly... as you are saying... this country is running pretty well at the moment
Secondly... seems we're still far from an election.... and there's no need for JM's plans before a confirmed election date and then a formal electoral campaign is launched...
Some vision you have !!
FRANS H SAID
Nov 6th 2011, 16:38
@ Kenneth Galea
It is not an election but that Gonzi will change ALL his team. It is like happened many years ago when Floriana FC had to change their theam with the youths (Ajax). Gonzi must remove his cabinet and his advisors. He still has a chance to build anew. It is better to have a group keen on Nationalist principles (even if with less esperience) than those who have lost all sense of direction and are following an odd and strange agenda.
The true Nationalist supporters must wake up and notice what is good and what is sheer propaganda.
If the next election is lost Gonzi will be put in the stocks, which is exactly what a certain groupo wants. Perhaps that is why EFA keeps on interfering, to boost the chances of his son and create a new dynasty.
E. Vassallo
Nov 6th 2011, 20:27
Give me Fenech Adami dynasty any time, at least they are people of principle.
hesperia Caruana
Nov 6th 2011, 15:30
Sur Mifsud, Jien bhalek 'floater' izda ma nixtieqx nghaddi minn krisi ghal ohra kif qal Dr.Muscat halli nivvota Labour. Better the devil you know than the angel you don't know........
FRANS H SAID
Nov 6th 2011, 14:58
The timesofmalta.com is showing 64% stating that the vote is a waste of time with only half of those seeing any value.
Gonzi, unfortunately has lost touch completely with the general public. He is cornered and well guarded by the inner group who only feed him the information suitable for their ends.
He should have never defended Agostino as once again the man in the street knows tyhat the bus service was a fiasco. It is not the buses or drivers which are better than the previous lot but the madcap routes, a bizarre nightmare, just so that the hole in the wall will be more visible. To me Agostino is a megalomaniac, jus too, TOO, big for his shoes.
Gonzi can still save the day, not with the vote but by showing that he means busines. He should remove all his team and trast afresh. With "frieds" like those he is surrounded by the most vile and dangerous enemies. He needs people like France, sincere and not afraid to face the truth.
Victor Vella
Nov 6th 2011, 14:22
Some say that they are floating voters and that they would be voting for the party of the leader of the opposition, some say that the PN has been in goverment too long.What bothers me is the rush that the PL has to gain power, why do they want an election now? what are they afraid of? do they consider Dr Gatt a threat? If I was going into such an important competition I would love to have more time to prepare myself.But no Dr Muscat has vowed to be the youngest prime minister and he wants the elections as soon as possible so that he goverment would not have time to reap the benefits of it's work, and maybe who knows what might come out of the maverick Dr Gonzi's hat.Does the leader of the opposition have a skeleton in his cupboard which might come out and show Malta what he was up to ? What is he afraid of tell us Dr Muscat as I can tell you now that even if you become a prime minister a skeliton will allways be nasty.
Kenneth Galea
Nov 6th 2011, 12:12
This has now become an old, broken record from a bunch of individuals for the Govenment to call an election (general) now. Why should Dr Gonzi do so? The PN has the mandate from the citizens of Malta to govern till March 2013 or even extend it to September 2013. The PN is hitting a rough phase due to internal bickering and not due to high unemployment or economic woes. Those are the real problems which a country should deal with it yesterday instead of tomorrow. This desperation of certain people to see the PL in Govermnet frightens me, I think these are the people who are still thinking that they would obtain favours if they queue up infront of a PL's Minister house or office. Stop damaging the image of Dr Muscat, he is not calling for an early election (because there is no basis for it). You are becoming very irritating and annoying calling for something which is NOT going to happen and there is no legality for it to happen.
joseph mifsud
Nov 6th 2011, 12:10
jien bhala floater voter llum smajt bl attenjoni id diskors ta dr.muscat li ghalija kien diskors qawwi hafna.jien ghalija nara lil dr.muscat il priministru tal futur.prosit dr.muscat ta diskors li ghamilt.u bhekk jien ha nmur nivvota labour.
Carmel camilleri
Nov 6th 2011, 15:09
Everybody knows that you are not a floating voter. Why not tell the truth?
Joe Vella
Nov 6th 2011, 15:15
Joseph mifsud, with all the BS aside, can you tell us what in particular struck you form Joseph Muscat speech. I can hardly wait to tell us all, perhaps then we could believe your sincerity.
Lawrence Jay
Nov 6th 2011, 11:45
Let us just have a general election. That is what the Maltese people deserve.. The Nationalists have been in power far too long. We need a breath of fresh air in this country.
I cannot vote by the way but this what I believe should happen and I am not interfering with the running of this country, just an observation only
Anthony Mangion
Nov 6th 2011, 15:22
If you are realy an observer, I would think you should observ and not comment.If oyu need a breath of fresh air i suggest you go to HadDingli.But there you cannot over step because its a long way to fall.Like over stepping in your comments.here in Malta we don t need people like you telling us what to do GO to your country whereever it is and tell them(your countrymen) what they need
Jo Azzopardi
Nov 6th 2011, 11:30
I am sorry to say that what Mr Franco Debono is doing, is buying time for the nationalst party.I fully agree with Mrs Zarb that this is only waste of time whatever the motion in Parliament no other minister is backing Mr Debono thus wasting our time and money.
lilly vella
Nov 6th 2011, 11:26
min nhar it tlieta l pm , se jhossu immortali . naseb tal pn , rieduh dan il vot ta fiducja, anzi rieduh b sahha u ghalhekk sar dak kollu li sar .
j brincat
Nov 6th 2011, 11:19
Next Tuesday's vote is predicting the predictable.
Where does it leave Dr Gonzi?
(jb)
charlie cauchi
Nov 6th 2011, 11:15
politikament mhux vijabli ghal partit nazjonalista li jibqa jigverna. il partit laburista ser ivara kampanja eletorali qawwi mil bidu tas sena id diehla, meta hemm l elezjonijiet tal kusilli lokali li bla dubju ta xejn ser tkun disfatta enormi ghal partit nazjonalista. ser ikun zball enormi li il partit nazjonalista jibqa jigverna meta ghandu kollox kontirh u ser jaghti cans lil partit laburista jilhaq jiranka bil kampanja eletorali, meta ghandek leader li hu mimli energija u ghadu zghir, meta tara lil gonzi li jidher ghajjien u inkwietat bis sitwazjoni.
Liza Zarb
Nov 6th 2011, 10:58
Dan il-vote se ikun farsa shiha , minn jara sewwa link ohra li tidher hawn illum , Franco debono se jibqa ghaddej jikkritika lil gvern . Allura isaqsi kif se ikun stabli il-gvern meta back bencher minn tieghu se ikun il-hin kollhu iwahhal is-safe gol-gvern. Nipostonu il-hin biss qeghdin biex immorru ghal budget, iroxxu ke,, jifilhu u ikollhu immur ghal elezjoni bikrija 100 fil-mija.
H. Psaila
Nov 6th 2011, 11:47
Kemm tixtiequ li issir elezzjoni bikrija, lanqas qieghdin imxenqin ghall-poter. Pero ibqu oholmu ghaliex din mhux sejra issehh. Miskiena nghidlek.
Richard Caruana
Nov 6th 2011, 13:00
Daqs kemm kien farsa dak li qal JM is-sena l-ohra waqt id-diskussjoni tal-Budget li Cipru ghaddejja hafna ahjar minn Malta.... illum (inqas minn sena) Cipru ghandha rating ta' BBB u l-Bonds tal-Gvern daqt jigu ddikjarati Junk u ma jiswewx il-karta li huma stampati fuqha. Dan huwa l-bozza JM li qed jispera li jkun Prim Ministru