Live - Confidence debate: The government's majority is stable - PM
Parliament is this evening debating a confidence motion in the government, proposed by the Prime Minister last Friday after a no-confidence motion in Transport Minister Austin Gatt was only defeated with the Speaker's casting vote. The debate started at 6 p.m.
9.35 p.m. - Government wins confidence vote 35 in favour, 34 against.
9.34 p.m. - Voting underway. Roll call of MPs.
9.30 p.m. - Explaining his vote, Nationalist MP Franco Debono says he had proposed to the PN Parliamentary Group that a motion of confidence in the government should be presented, and he would back it. Referring to the setting of the public transport task force he says the reform had embarrassed the government and led to complaints and the prime minister was now shouldering the burden. It was important that such reforms were handled more diligently.
9.30 p.m. - Prime Minister concludes his speech amid applause.
9.27 p.m. - Dr Gonzi says this debate conveys a message of stability in the interests of Malta's workers. It shows that the government can live with internal criticism and one learns from what takes place. The government's majority is stable and will continue to push the government forward in the national interest.
9.22 pm - Dr Gonzi says the government's investment in education is meant to ensure that investment continues, with foreign investors finding the skills they need. This is the government's opposition. What is that of the Labour Party? For the PL, it seemed that Malta should have kept the dockyard, despite its losses. The government had tried to save the dockyard, but in the end it was clear that it was irresponsible to retain it once financial viability could not be achieved in terms of EU regulations. That was independent of the Fairmount contracts.
9.15 pm. PM underlines incentives given to SMEs, including tax cuts on investment and micro-credit. Insists government policies go beyond the next election (interruptions). The PN is continuing the transformation of the economy from one which was based on manufacturing into one that was more mixed and vibrant and included new areas such as IT, financial services and aircraft maintenance. But wise investment in areas such as the power station went hand in hand. What would happen to industry if there was no power of if power? Thanks to this government, for the first time ever, Malta would have multiple sources of energy - including the power station, the interconnector, and possibly further in the future, a gas pipeline to Europe which could possibly also be used for the power station.
9.10 pm - Prime Minister defends building of new Parliament. Says this is providing work for Maltese workers. One way how countries stimulated the economy was through infrastructural projects. And the ultimate aim is that once parliament moves out of the Palace, that beautiful building can be restored to its former grandeur to become a hub of the Maltese identity, attracting the Maltese and foreigners alike.
9.02 pm - Prime Minister highlights the fact that Malta has maintained high credit ratings. He quotes Standard & Poors which in the latest report said that Malta has 'effective policy making that delivers relatively stable economic growth'. This is a government of all the Maltese (boos) which has safeguarded jobs, expanded the University and Mcast and is building a new school every year. And then Dr Muscat said the governemnt lacked vision.
9 pm - PM reacts to claims that the government has a defective majority. Today's debate was proof of the contrary. Franco Debono had himself in the PN executive proposed this evening's debate and would back the government, like all the other MPs.
8.58 pm - Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi starts his winding up. Says that while Dr Muscat criticised the government for harking to the past, he had done so himself. But he did not refer to his own past, including his opposition to EU membership, a historic mistake which, had it come to pass, would have affected all members of society.
8.54 pm - Labour compares itself with those who are better off. It wants real economic growth for sustainable deficit reduction. It will thus assist businesses. The Prime Minister's duty is to restore stability. Problems will not go away with tonight's vote. The vote will pass, the problems will remain.
8.46 pm - Muscat: Government resorting to the policies of fear, but this was seen in the past when Labour carried out major reforms including the health service, maternity leave and civil marriage.
8.45 pm - Muscat: Malta is in the state it is, not because of the government, but despite the government and thanks to the people
8.38 pm - Muscat says the Prime Minister has taken a series of bad decisions and the people are feeling their standard of living deteriorating. The government is cut off from the reality Maltese and Gozitans are facing. It used to have a vision but this has now disappeared and there is no hope for the future.
8.34 pm - Dr Muscat said that more than a year has passed since both sides agreed on IVF legislation but no Bill has yet been moved. He says the prime minister voted in favour of an EU recommendation for a raising of the retirement age. This could either mean that people who had thought they could retire before they were 65 will not be able to do so or that the retirement age will be over 65. The PL will opt for a different solution - economic growth and encouraging women to return to employment.
8.30 pm - Muscat says that within three months Dr Gonzi will announce a major u-turn - that the power station extension will use diesel instead of heavy fuel oil.
8.24 pm - Dr Muscat accuses the Prime Minister of insensitivity when he said that water and electricity rates had to be raised so that people take up energy saving measures. He says that Labour made several proposals in the past three and a half years - on immigration, the cost of living, maternity leave, Mepa reform. The Prime Minister now wanted to know how Labour will reduce rates. There is more than one way of doing so and Labour is not bound to one solution or another.
8.21 pm - Dr Muscat says Labour and the people are waiting patiently for Monday's budget. He recalls the income tax cuts promises and says they were only an election ploy.
8.18 p.m. - Dr Muscat hits out over the ministerial pay rise and highlights the poor conditions of hospital care workers. He also insists that Labour knows exactly what to do to reduce power tariffs, and it will keep it word, without widening the deficit. Interruptions.
8.16 pm - Dr Muscat highlights areas where government and opposition worked together, including the Ombudsman law, EU treaties and the rent law. But the prime minister showed himself unable to keep a united team. He backed out of the vote on the Co-Cathedral Museum and shelved the primary healthcare reform because he did not have a majority. The prime minister lost out on divorce and his hand was forced in other areas, such as the law on legal assistance to arrested persons. That Dr Gonzi had said that people were not protesting over living conditions but about the buses did not mean, as he seemed to think, that the people did not have huge problems.
8.12 pm - Muscat hits out at the handling of the bus service reform. The prime minister, he says, needs to decide whether he really has confidence in Austin Gatt after defending him on Friday, and then substituting him today. Surely the prime minister should be focused on the economy instead of taking over the bus service from Austin Gatt. But apparently, the prime minister really has a limited talent pool.
8.05 pm - Muscat says Lawrence Gonzi is showing weak leadership, pretending that problems do not exist. His confidence vote was not caused by the international situation or the problems in Air Malta or elsewhere. This vote was called because the government has a defective majority in Parliament.
8.02 p.m. - Joseph Muscat says the confidence vote will pass but the government's problems will remain. The government, as shown in the debate so far, is still in the past, lost in surreal triumphalism showing itself to be cut off from reality. Instead of addressing the root cause of the problem which led to this confidence motion, the government is ignoring the fact that it is being held hostage, as is the country's stability.
8 pm - The government deserves the confidence vote because the will of the majority expressed in the election has to be respected, but also because of the results achieved int he past three years, Borg concludes.
7.48 pm -Tonio Borg recalls rent reforms and the end of requisitions. The former Labour government used to requisition private properties to hand them to the Labour Party itself. (interruptions)
7.53 pm - Tonio Borg recalls Malta's role in the Libyan uprising and its early condemnation of Gaddafi's atrocities. "Without firing a shot or taking part in military action, we drew the admiration of those who wanted change in Libya."
7.51pm – Under this government more elderly people are opting to continue to work because they can still receive their pension. This government set up local councils and has been raising their funding, enabling them, among other things, to build more roads.
7.48 p.m. 4,400 operations were carried out at Mater Dei Hospital in the first six months of the year and the prices of 166 medicines were reduced. No other government spent as much as this one on the environment and this government also revolutionised waste management.
7.39 pm - With the sale of the shipyard by the government is saving some €25m per year which used to be given as subsidies. Such funds and more from other former subsidies, are now being invested in tourism - where Malta is enjoying record numbers. Malta is also investing more in education and more students are now following post secondary courses. The government in a year had also distributed a record €58m on free medicines.
7.34 pm - Borg: The government's over-riding priority has always been protecting and creating jobs and it deserves confidence especially on this score. Economic growth last year, in a difficult scenerio, was among the best in the EU. Unemployment at 6.3% is the fifth lowest in Europe and just ovr half the European average. The average wage was up 4.3% over last year. The gainfully occupied this year is up 3.180. Was this a loss of direction by the government? Hardly.
7.29 pm - Foreign Minister Tonio Borg takes over. Points out that in preaching democracy, Labour speakers forget that their party governed for five years against the will of the people. This confidence motion showed the government's strength since the MP who abstained last week had himself proposed this debate and said he would back the government.
7.24pm - Anglu Farrugia: shameful that 82,000 people are in poverty or at risk of poverty.
7.17pm - Anglu Farrugia says the government has to explain how major contracts were awarded to the same contractor and how corruption was alleged in the yacht repair facility sale. They wanted to know why €270,000 were spent on the Mita building façade and €170,000 in other consultancy, and how €2.5m were spent on the breakwater bridge. Would the government explain why it spent thousands to rent ambulances instead of buying enough for Mater Dei? Why were medicines out of stock in government dispensaries? Was it any wonder that the government's own MPs were complaining that they were not being heard?
Scene – Some three quarters of MPs are in the Chamber. Franco Debono entered the House shortly after the debate started and chatted with Labour MPs Jose’ Herrera and Gino Cauchi, PN MP Edwin Vassallo and Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco.
7.12pm - What has become of the promised 5,000 jobs at SmartCity? How will the loss of €70m on the Fairmount contracts at the shipyard be explained? What is to become of Air Malta? Will Austin Gatt continue to enjoy his €500 salary increase despite his failure? What of the Qawra land handed to Go with Maltacom's privatisation? What of the hospital waiting lists?
7.01pm - Dr Farrugia notes that had the Prime Minister been sure his government enjoyed confidence, he would not have moved such a motion. The people wanted answers, not least about the country's €5 billion debt and many unkept promises
6.58 pm - Dr Farrugia says Transport Malta is renting up to 20 coaches per day at €500 each to pick up people from bus stops because of the inefficient bus service. This will cost the country several million euro per year.
6.57 p.m. - Creation of Transport task force by the prime minister is vote of no confidence in Austin Gatt and shows that Franco Debono was right to abstain in Friday's vote.
6.51 p.m. - Dr Farrugia says the government is unstable because one of its MP abstained in the no confidence motion against the Transport Minister last Friday. The government has lost direction, Malta has rule of the few The Prime MInister is weak with his colleagues but tough with the people.
6.48 p.m. - PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia says the Prime Minister had to go to Parliament tonight because the government was insecure. He is obliging his MPs to vote in favour of his confidence motion.
6.46 p.m. - PM- Courageous decisions to reform, despite sacrifices, have kept Malta going and to remain competitive. PM concludes speech.
6.39 pm - Dr Gonzi: Were it up for the opposition, power tariffs would have been kept low artificially, and then taxes would have had to go up for everyone and Marsa power station would have been kept open. The opposition never offered proposals. It said it has plans to reduce tariffs, without saying how. Will its measures mean higher subsidies and, hence, a wider deficit? And will that take Malta to the same financial problems of the neighbouring countries? Clearly, the Opposition has no real solution for the power tariffs and this is a political game much like how Alfred Sant had wanted to replace VAT with CET.
6.30 - The prime minister highlights the explosion in oil prices after 2008 and says the decision to raise electricity and water tariffs was a responsible one. Had that decision not been taken, the deficit would have gone up sharply and Malta would have undermined its financial structure. The government however regretted the burden on low income people and measures had been taken to ease this burden. Decisions on the power station extension and the interconnector were taken with an eye on keeping tariffs as low as possible. And the polluting Marsa power station will be closed.
6.25 - Prime Minister says the situation in Malta contrasts with other countries. The protest in Valletta last Friday was not about austerity or jobs. It was about the bus service. The government wants to apologise for the inconvenience caused by the bus service and is determined to provide an efficient service. But what a difference from the situation in Greece, Italy, Spain and elsewhere! "The storm hit everyone, but Malta was able to ride the waves because it had direction and a firm hand on the rudder".
6.20 - Prime Minister says people abroad are losing confidence in their governments and the institutions and this can lead to a loss of the legitimacy of government. Whatever the political price, the governemnt in Malta wants to ensure that Malta does not sink into the financial problems of other countries. But this requires sacrifices. The government does not take some sort of masochistic pleasure in demanding sacrifices, but it does what is required for the long-term good of the country and its people.
6.16 pm - Prime Minister speaks on the fallout of the financial and economic crises, notably austerity measures in various countries and widespread unemployment and protests in Greece, Italy, Spain and the UK.
6.11 pm - Dr Gonzi says he had warned during the electoral campaign of troubled waters ahead, but no one could have ever anticipated the worst financial and economic crises in generations.
6.06 pm - The prime minister says the instability north and south of Malta demands a sense of responsibility in Malta as any single wrong decision can unbalance the economy with consequences for workers and their families. It is therefore important for Malta to have serenity as it faces its challenges. The people expect a stable government they can rely on. "I am not prepared to leave the people in any doubt about the stability of the government".
Dr Gonzi says some are trying to ignore what is happening around Malta, lest people compare and contrast, reaching the obvious conclusion that the government is doing well. But, Dr Gonzi said, he was confident truth will prevail.
6.05 pm- Prime Minister formally presents the confidence motion. The debate is to continue till 9.30 p.m.
6 pm - Sitting starts with the tabling of various documents in reply to parliamentary questions.
Today's confidence debate is only the third in Maltese political history. George Borg Olivier sought and was given a confidence vote in his first term in 1950 but his government collapsed soon after - although he was subsequently able to string a coalition government.
Alfred Sant lost a vote on the Cottonera marina project linked to a conference vote in 1998, ending the short life of his government.
Nationalist MP Franco Debono, who abstained in Friday's vote, has said he will back the government this evening, but he has complained to the PN parliamentary group about not being given time to speak tonight - arguing he needs to further explain his position after what happened on Friday. Debono also says he was the one who proposed tonight's debate in the PN executive. The PN parliamentary group yesterday decided that only the prime minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg should speak from the government benches this evening.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Second group of migrants arrives
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
109 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Steve Pace
Nov 9th 2011, 22:20
The government's majority is stable and will continue to push the government forward in the national interest.
and mostr importantly in the interest of EUR 500.00 / week salary increase ...
Michael Magri
Nov 9th 2011, 14:18
So Dr. Gonzi won a majority vote of confidence from HIS own Cabinet, IN PARLAMENT...!! Big Deal..!!
BUT.. GonziPN did NOT have a majority vote from the Maltese and Gozitans at 2008 general elections...!!
Well Then Mr. Prime Minister.. If you Realy feel So Confident... How about gathering some courage and test yourself for another Most Important vote of confidence, from THE PEOPLE of Malta and Gozo...!!!
Ha.. Ha.. Now that`s a Real Challenge Dr. Gonzi, u mela dak li ghamilt int lil Dr. Muscat....!!!!
Rodnick Abdilla
Nov 9th 2011, 01:54
Government regrets the burden of the water and electricity bills on the low income people. But Government does not tell the people that whilst Government has removed the subsidy on the water and electricity tariffs of the people, the people are subsidising the water and electricity bills of the Member sof Parliament!
Sabrina Grech
Nov 8th 2011, 23:37
sorry but all this hogwash about investment in education is nothing but direct instruction from the EU to lift us from the bottom of the league when it comes to the respective targets. hardly is any reference made to the fact that we are at the very end of the European spectrum when dealing with achievement in the education sector.
R. Gauci
Nov 8th 2011, 23:18
Given the disaster of the Public Transport Reform, now we want to know who the task force people are and what qualifications they have to be entrusted with this TASK FORCE job!!
Peppi Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 22:41
The government does not take some sort of masochistic pleasure in demanding sacrifices but government takes lots of pleasure in raising the remuneration of its ministers by 500Euros per week!
Paul Giordimaina
Nov 9th 2011, 05:34
Kompli doq din id diska Pep forsi xi hadd jemnek.Qabel nisa hu naqra pacenzja 18 il xaghar malajr jaddu.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 22:02
This is called time wasting and time gaining. It's just a diversion from key issues.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 22:02
"9.35 p.m. - Government wins confidence vote 35 in favour, 34 against."
Lemmings!
lilly vella
Nov 8th 2011, 22:01
When I hear the PN flaunting the investment in education, I just do not know if to laugh or to cry. This is because on one hand they promote higher education and on the other hand the highest paid jobs and posts within government and parastatal authorities are not given to those with the highest qualifications and expertise in the field but such are given to the pampaluni tal-PN. If you want a good job you should buy the biggest PN flag you can find and invest your time in running from one PN meeting to another and waving your flag as hard as you can and make sure that you get your picture in the newspapers and on NET TV.
H. Psaila
Nov 9th 2011, 07:26
At least now-a-days you get a job whether you are with PL or PN but when the Labour where in power only those will get a job who were pampaluni of MLP. Who do you think you are gidding here. MLP thought only of their supporters and didn't care of nobody else at all.
Peter Azzopardi
Nov 8th 2011, 21:49
Nista inkun naf wara dan il paroli kollhu fil parlament x se jiehu il poplu. Tafu li hlejtu gimgha tiggustifikaw l Arriva u il poplu baqa ,u se jibqa mhux moqdi sew. u fl ahhar mill ahhar intom se tiehdu 500 Ewro zieda xorta ta din il gimgha mohlija minhabba l ARRIVA.
Wally Vella-Zarb
Nov 8th 2011, 21:45
This vote is as meaningful as when a woman asks her man to tell her that he loves her. "I love you", he dutifully replies; but the question lingers on in her mind...Does he really or did he say that just to humour me?
What a waste of parliament time!
Peter Azzopardi
Nov 8th 2011, 21:44
Illum se jerga jorqod sew. wara il vot tal lejla . Buona Notte. Austin........................
Mary Ann Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 22:35
Buona notte Peter. U meta jisbah se ssib PM b'par idejn sodi u kap tal opozizzjoni li lanqas kapaci jghidilna kif se jrahhas id-dawl u l-ilma.
Mr Stephen Borg
Nov 9th 2011, 14:17
@Mary Ann Borg
He could start by removing the taxes over taxes imposed on such tariffs by the prime minister with very strong hands. Please spare us from this nonsense.
Brian Gatt
Nov 10th 2011, 12:09
@ Mary Ann Borg
Hmm so you want the Opposition Leader to tell you how to reduce the Utility Bills when you have a prime minister with a Par Idejn Sodi who gave himself an increase of Euro 500 / week. Ask him he is the guy responsible for now. He should be the one wha has the reponsability to come up with a solution to this problem. If he is not capable then he should move out - resign and whoever and if Dr Muscat is elected in his place then you would be right in directing your quetion to him.
A. Tabone
Nov 8th 2011, 21:42
The usual set of catchphrases, sophistry and pretty posing from Dr. Muscat, and the solid, statesman's replies from Dr. Gonzi.
We know what Gonzi stands for. We're still waiting to understand what the PL's airy-fairy proposals really are. At least Muscat admitted he'll only reveal them on the eve of the election. Maybe he'll announce his fabled 15 year economic plan (I imagine it must be a massive volume filled with forecasts, stress tests and statistical analysis) a day before the end of the campaign...ma jmurx jikkupjalu xi numru Tonio nahseb! Umbghad jugzah lil ispeaker b'hacking biex itih punishment...
Qed insemmu numri, b'kemm ha tkun il-maggoranza tal-PL din id-darba? Ghola mill-20,000 vot li kien jissemma fl-2008?
Mr Hans Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:39
This is not a CONFIDENCE VOTE. This is a gimmick.
Mr Hans Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:29
So GonziPN is finally publicly classifying the north and south of Malta. Yes, we have seen this classification time and time again like when GonziPN chose the location for the recycling plant, when GonziPN chose the location for the Freeport, like when GonziPN chose the location for developing into a touristic area, etc....... We will not forget.
Mr Joe Cardona
Nov 8th 2011, 21:18
Onerevoli Prim Minsitru kif trid familja b'paga wahda taghmel il-famuzi panelli li trid int li l-poplu jaghmel.
Mela dil il-familja tista tohrog dawk il-mijiet ta' liri u thalli lill uliedha mejta bil-guh.
Come on, irraguna. Il-haddiem ma hax zieda ta' 500 ewro fil-gimgha kif ha il-Kabinet kollu.
Kieku ha din iz-zieda kieku money no problem u l-panelli isiru.
Jo Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:10
Gonzi tries hard (miskin!) to convince us that we are doing exceptionally well! He does this by comparing us with Malta of 30 years ago (allaheres fi tletin sena ma mxejniex ftit il-quddiem), with countries which are currently doing worse than us (u zguuuur li nidru tajjeb jekk tqabbilna ma dawk li qeghdin l-ahhar fil-klassi!) or with previous years in this legislature or the previous one (meta l-affarijiet kienu aghar - Imma min kien qed imexxi dakinhar? Mhux int stess sur PM? ). Who do you think you are fooling? Certainly not the sensible voter.
mark borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:15
Sewwa qed tghid siehbi ,barra min hekk qed iqabbel pajjizi enormi (jigifieri bi problemi enormi ) ma Malta li lanqas tghamel daqs belt zghira ! fejn jaqbillhu jqabilnha ma barra...fejn jaqbillu ara meta nigu ghal pagi....
Mr Joe Cardona
Nov 8th 2011, 21:09
Nixtieq insaqsi lil PM mela ghala se tgholli l-eletriku meta int stess illum fil-Parlament qrajt wiehed mir-rapporti tal-Credit li nizziltu mill-laptop li kellek quddiemek fil-Parlament li Malta sejra tajba?
Ma tahsibx li dan il-pass se jkun krudili u jsawwat lil-poplu Malti?
Jien nahseb li flok tghollih ghandek trahsu.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 21:07
"The storm hit everyone, but Malta was able to ride the waves because it had direction and a firm hand on the rudder - Prime Minister"
That's because the Maltese are the people chose by God!
Maybe your tune will change once the EU joining funds come to an end...
pat muscat
Nov 8th 2011, 20:58
Nispera li Gonzi jerga iqabbad lil dawk il-consultants li sajru il-kawlata tat-trasport publiku biex iregghu lura kollox kif kien qabel ir-riforma avant-garde; ghax nghidu kif inhi, min sajjar il-kawlata jaf x'hemm fil-borma!
mark borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:13
Il consulenti mhux se jibqa bzonnhom, issa Gonzi sar consulent tal Buses huwa stess !
Joseph Azzopardi
Nov 8th 2011, 20:58
Joe Muscat wants to be the best in europe now. How funny when we remember that MLP was against EU a few years ago (inc. Joe Muscat). No party in Malta did so massive U-turns as the MLP did in our recent history. Kif nistghu nemmnukom MLP i mean PL.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 21:11
Changing tactics, plans and views show intelligence and creativity!
A. Tabone
Nov 8th 2011, 21:21
You can also choose to say you've got brilliant plans...without saying what the plan actually is. You then proceed to make fun of someone else's plans because they're not as great as your super secret plans.
Heads I win, tails you lose. U Joseph jifhem f'kollox...
l vella
Nov 9th 2011, 09:04
I have heard rumours of bigger U-turns.............from "Italia irredenta" to independence !
joseph gellel
Nov 8th 2011, 20:45
trid isolvi il problemi prim zid il pagi 500euors fil gighma bhal ma ghamilt lilek ok. kulhad ferhan ikun mux kif ghedin kulhad qisu mignun.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 20:42
"Government's priorities are jobs and education and results are being seen
- Tonio Borg"
Good one, Tonino!
Don't tell us about jobs. Tells us how much jobs our page. Are you willing to get rid of the cheap labour system?
Education? You got rid of the grammar school (Junior Lyceums) and illiteracy is growing. Or do you mean you priority is building schools alias giving contracts to PN's contractor friends?
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 20:47
Meant 'how much jobs are paid'
Mr Joe Cardona
Nov 8th 2011, 20:42
Ma tistax tkun aktar krudili mal-poplu meta tisma il-PM jghid li jrid jerga' jgholli id-dawl. Ma nafx kif in-nazzjonalisti jaqblu ma' dan. Jaqaw il-gvern jaghtihom xi incentiv biex ikopri dan?
Il-bzonn ta' bidla waslet u dan illum qabel ghada u qabel ukoll ma ngherqu. Ara ma tahsbux li se jkun hawn min jitfalna is-salvawomu.
Nista naghti lil PM zewg alternattivi biex ma jghollix id-dawl.
1. In-nefqa ta' 18-il miljun ghal Parlament.
2. Jigbor il-500 ewro zieda fil-gimgha li ta lil-Kabinet tieghubl-arretrati kollha u it-telf li se taghmel l-Enemalta jigborhom u b'hekk ma jkomplix isawwatna.
A. Tabone
Nov 8th 2011, 20:34
Is-soltu Joseph, hafna wieghdiet u fatti zero. Put your money were your mouth is, la temmen li tifhem "the fundamentals of the economy" spjegalna dan il-pjan meraviljuz u misterjuz tieghek u ta' Karmenu Vella. Nittama li l-bicca ta' l-affarijiet barranin lahaq ghamel update taghha Sciberras Trigona.
Isa, Joey, isa...
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 20:47
Preposterous indeed! One's business rival is not there to give one advice ! Poor Labour: they're going to have to tackle a disaster.
J Busuttil
Nov 8th 2011, 20:50
Joe Fenech. Joseph is not saying that in fact he is saying that he has solutions for everything and we are going to be better off.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 20:59
J.Busuttil:
What ever solutions he has, he'll have to balance the books first and that will come mainly from taxes. Malta has lived 25 years or so under the umbrella of 'money is no problem' alias irresponsible behaviour, and no planning.
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 21:10
Yes, tackling a disaster would start by balancing the book and that will entail taxes. Malta has lived a lie for over 25 years with its dictum being "money no problem".
H. Psaila
Nov 9th 2011, 09:16
@ Joe Fenech - Who told you that Labour is going to win the next election. Perhaps you are living in lala land. What disaster you are talking about, I think you are already forecasting the disaster if JM will be in power (God forbids).
You talked about planning, what planning does JM have, nothing, zero, zilch, nada. He is giving high hopes to the Maltese people that he has plans to reduce electricity tariffs, transport, fuel, etc. but without giving any information whatsoever. This is just to get votes from the people and then nothing really happens. Typical of Labour. Whom are you kidding here, we have lived through Labour and know the meaning. Grow up and stop living in lala land.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 20:26
- Muscat hits out over the ministerial pay rise and highlights the poor conditions of hospital care workers. He also insists that Labour knows exactly what to do to reduce power tariffs, and it will keep it word, without widening the deficit
How can labour supporters not realise that thid person is just talk with no substance!!! If he knows how then why not share ... his idea might be crap in a year time...
Lydon Ancilleri
Nov 8th 2011, 20:46
Words of someone desperate for ideas... It is the GONZIPN government that is in power, let him come up with his own ideas!! People voted for GONZIPN because they wanted to see what 'new' ideas the party can bring.
I'm sure that JM did his homework right and has every option possible even if his " idea might be crap in a year time". I'm confident that at the right time, JM will reveal his ideas. I'm more ready to support a new leader, rather than GONZIPN!!
G Schembri
Nov 8th 2011, 21:21
I remember a time when The only solution PN used to say was Fiducja - i don't see why they want to know what PL is planning.
T Gauci
Nov 8th 2011, 20:24
Italy's Prime minister is going to resign, now it's your turn Minister Austin.
Tony Zammit
Nov 8th 2011, 20:39
Don't hold your breath my friend..
K. Vella
Nov 8th 2011, 20:23
So Arrogant.....and this Joseph Muscat is still in the Opposition.....cannot beleive the language used from this progressive modern leader....
Labour will never change, just cliches and rhetoric.....
M. Bezzina
Nov 8th 2011, 20:25
tinkwetax erga ivvota GonziPN!!
Joe Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 21:05
It's funnny that 'you' are talking about cliches!
mark borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:22
Jidher li laqtek fil laham il haj Joseph ...siehbi titbaqbaqx ghax kollhu ghalxejn...ftit iehor u Joseph jghamlilkhom pjacir u jihu ir riedni f idu,ghax bit tkaxkira li gejja f l-elezzjoni li jmiss il PN mhux 16 il sena f l-oposizzjoni tghamlu did darba, imma zewgt generazzjonijiet. shah..iz zmien jghatina parir ! ftakhar mil lahhar elezzjoni kemm kien hemm nies imxebbajn u dawru il vot diga.
Thomas Mifsud
Nov 8th 2011, 20:20
For the Maltese to be happy and for Malta to be OK the PM must call an election and see what the people have to say. Not getting a vote of confidence from a bunch of parliamentaries getting paid 500Euros more per week for the sake of shutting their mouth. People are hurt and have something to say, Goodmorning Dr. Lawrence Gonzi.
Jo Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 20:16
Everybody knows Gonzi is a wreck. But his deputy is hardly any better. What a weak performance by Dottor Borg! Please, please tell me he's not being paid by the taxpayer. What a joke! His arguments were full of holes. Just to mention a few...He said the average salaries in Malta increased by X percent last year... Of course they did, his Cabinet's Euro 500 a week no doubt raised this average! He mentioned the 'scandalous' appropriation of private property by PL to be assigned as party clubs. I'd say better this than taking public land worth 10 million Euro and giving it away for free to private business.... He said Gonzi predicted that the Libyan regime would fall - Wow! Nostradamus hey! So the famous prophet Gonzi forecast that Libya vs the rest of the world would end with a defeat for Libya. Wow! What exceptional understanding of foreign affairs! We can sleep soundly knowing that our affairs are in the able hands of these clowns! Do us all a big favour. Quit en masse and don't bother to stand for re-election. Maybe someone will start fixing this disaster before it's too late!
Ms. P.M Graham
Nov 8th 2011, 20:06
"Such funds and more from other former subsidies, are now being invested in tourism - where Malta is enjoying record numbers."
Tourism statistics may well be up "record numbers" but at what cost? Many Tourists are choosing Full board accommodations which is killing off the small family run restaurants and dictating how far people will travel in a day between breakfast and lunch and dinner, which has a knock on affect to Tourist Attractions that are losing money.
No one shops in Malta anymore because of the ridiculous taxes and overpricing which DOES put the Tourist off. I actually don't know how you sleep at night.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 20:18
Do you expect the goverment to also run your business? Also I do not know where you live ... but here in malta shops always seem to be full ... and not only with tourists
Ms. P.M Graham
Nov 8th 2011, 20:36
Mr Aquilina: read what i said, not what you think i said. If it is cheaper for a Tourist to have a holiday on full board and lay around the pool all day, with the odd trip out then who can blame them for taking it, but who is paying the price hmmm? The Family run restaurant that has been here for years that can't compete with the Hotels. The snack bars, the Pastizzieria's, the self catering complexes. It never used to be that way. Shops may be full but people aren't buying which is obvious by the economy.
fred newsome
Nov 8th 2011, 21:44
i agree with Ms. P.M Graham about the overpricing in shops I give you one example and guess which I bought we needed a new vac we looked at shops here the one we liked was €159 on amazon €80 delivered it arrived this week
Mr Joe Cardona
Nov 8th 2011, 20:03
Where are the jobs? I'm 53 and applied for more then 200 jobs in these last 2 years when I was made redundant and no-one sent for me
No one wants us and it is not true that we of this age find who turn to us. Who employ doesn't care despite like me have certificates.
John Clease
Nov 8th 2011, 19:49
I am not prepared to leave the people in any doubt about the stability of the government
- Prime Minister. Who is he kidding?
Peter Shaw
Nov 8th 2011, 19:28
Looking forward to see PN back to the opposition benches :))
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 20:16
Just for the fun of it i guess ... typical labour mentality!!!
Alfred Fenech
Nov 8th 2011, 20:25
Maybe he learns something.
H. Psaila
Nov 9th 2011, 09:21
Hehhehehehehe, keep on dreaming. DREAM DREAM DREAM
Rishi Bonello
Nov 8th 2011, 19:27
Why all these confidence and no confidence motions.? Aren't these all useless? Why not call a general election instead and see people's interest and not the cabinet's views. I think the cabinet has done enough and have taken decisions we don't approve off.
mark borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:26
Let him solve some of his own mess please, before he washes his hands completely and throw the ball in the Pl's court !
Robert Demanuele
Nov 8th 2011, 19:27
This government is definitely not delivering in all sectors, but can someone point out for me an alternative competent party please ?
Joseph Azzopardi
Nov 8th 2011, 20:02
Alternative government to PN ? Bahhhhhh
jesmond zammit
Nov 8th 2011, 19:15
u issa wara ,ara kemm gej tbissim , u min jaf ? nahseb xi folla cejkna ckejkna , barra l parlament ikun hemm , u xi camera ta xarabank, halli ninfurmaw in nies,li malta kollox sew.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 19:25
Malta has many investors!! Labour and Joseph has done its best to kick investors outside of Malta by depicting an image of doom and instability!! PN and Gonzi have gone through all this in order to show such investors that in Malta all is ok!!
W Cassar
Nov 8th 2011, 19:13
Gonzi looks at other countries and compares himself to them, but you can't compare a small city to a nation of millions!! Thats what Malta is... a small city! Its not a good comparison.
mark borg
Nov 8th 2011, 21:06
Spot on, this is just a 400 sq klm country ! and he is comparing it to other large nations ! (fejn jaqbillhu ) mhux fil pagi zgur !
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 19:03
PL and its supporters show clearly that what they want is not the good of Malta. What they want is power, an electoral win. For them democracy is like a game of football!! If PL wanted the good of Malta and the Maltese then Joseph would share his ideas on HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS rather then JUST SAY there are problems!!! However Joseph does not know how to solve problems!! Joseph only knows how hungry he is for power and to be PM!!
Once Joseph Muscat said he wanted to become PM to serve! I ask; does he need to be PM to serve? If he really has an idea on how Malta can reduce the electricity and water bills then why doesn't he START serving the Maltese and share his ideas? Or is he ready to SERVE only if the Maltese elect him!? What type of leader is that!!!??
Simon Bonello
Nov 8th 2011, 19:17
dik l unika arma li fadlilkom habib li tbezzaw lin nies bilbabaw, pero din id-darba l poplu imxebba sa mniehru. Kemm ha jdumu nies jemmnuk umbad jaraw affarijiet opposti ma wiccom?
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 19:22
@Simon Bonello
You actually did not answer my question; JOSEPH SAID HE HAS THE SOLUTION, JOSEPH SAID HE WANTS TO SERVE!! SO WHAT IS STOPPING HIM??
Is he there only to serve his own interests? or maybe he has NO solution and is only good at talking?? Truth is that all our neighbors are in trouble and WE, MALTA are in good shape because our GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSABLE and did the opposite of what Joseph and PL suggested!!
V Mercieca
Nov 8th 2011, 19:29
I don't believe we are living in the same country. In my opinion the PN is hungry for power and top people like ministers stated in public that the PN will continue to govern for the next 20 years.
Joseph Muscat always stated that "IF THE PUBLIC gave him confidence in an election"
What a great difference between an arrogant statement by the PN and a simple humble statement by the PL.
who is hungry for power?
Mr Omar Zammit
Nov 8th 2011, 19:29
Ghalfejn ghandu jkun PL li jghid lill-gvern kif isolvi l-problemi?? Hemm 35 deputat tal-gvern li 'suppost' huma kapaci. Mhux ghalhekk qeghdin hemm? Tista ssemmili pajjiz iehor fid-dinja (peress li l-prim ministru jhobb jikkumparana ma pajjizi ohra) fejn l-oppozizzjoni ssolvi l-problemi tal-pajjiz??
J Busuttil
Nov 8th 2011, 19:30
Le Le Simon in-nies mhux cwic u jibzew mill PL fil poter.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 19:37
Mr Omar Zammit
If you have an idea and with that idea you can help many people then what is the right thing to do; keep it for yourself? or share it? I am not saying that Joseph should share his ideas and PN take credit; I am saying that if Joseph has an idea on how to solve Maltas problems then he should not wait to get elected PM to start sharing those ideas, serve the Maltese people, and show to the country he is worth of electing PM!! However so far I only heard Joseph Muscat point his finger and this is something that even a seven year old knows how to do; the challenge is coming up with ideas and make them work!!
Tony Zammit
Nov 8th 2011, 21:10
Joseph Aquilina
I'm an ex PN voter, I feel sorry that I have voted for PN.. believe me this country needs a change of new thinking new ideas, PN things of the past for me, give you one example why, 500eur for some PM and how much for you?
Today I see that Sant was speaking the truth in lots of things.
Tony Zammit
Nov 8th 2011, 19:00
6.20 - Prime Minister says people abroad are losing confidence in their governments"
I don't care of other countries.
I only care of MALTA, where I pay my taxes and I also live.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 19:06
Shows how naive you are. Greece is where it is because its governments, rather than face reality, opted to do like what Joseph would do; keep everything as is and borrow more!! Now they have a life time to pay all their debts!! Is that what you wish for Malta!!???
Maybe something is not clear for PL supporters; MONEY DOES NOT COME FROM NOWHERE!!
L. Calleja
Nov 8th 2011, 19:19
You are a very selfish person and you also have to understand we are part of Europe and a global market, so what is happening outside our shores will always effect you.
V Mercieca
Nov 8th 2011, 19:32
Mr Aquilina please get your facts correct
Greece is where it is because when this government was elected he found billions of loans which were hidden by the pervious government
I am afraid that if the PL are elected, Malta will be a second Greece
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 8th 2011, 19:43
@V Mercieca
"its governments" plural??? ring a bell??? Successive Greek governments did not do as PN did, continued borrowing rather than face reality early in order to safe guard the future!!
Gordon Farrugia
Nov 8th 2011, 20:11
@ Joseph, why what's the difference here? For this administration money is no problem - it has turned hundreds of millions of surplus in the country's coffers to EUR 5, 000, 000, 000 of debt. It borrows and borrows and bloody keeps borrowing without any accountability to citizens and many generations to come. I say this attitude is plain criminal!
Tony Zammit
Nov 8th 2011, 20:37
Joseph Aquilina
I don't care about Greece, I care about use the Maltese. Why should we pay for their debt? We have enough problems of our own. Did some of these counties you talking about ever supported us in the illegal immigrants we have? answer? No. Why because it's not their problem. naive my foot.
j brincat
Nov 8th 2011, 18:58
And what does the government have as a solution?
Raising the utility bills skywards without giving a real breakdown of costings!
(jb)
Jon Briffa
Nov 8th 2011, 18:55
You may fool your blind sheep but you're not fooling me Mr. PM. Don't use the bus service to cover our economic problems. Comparing the protests of Malta with the protests of other European countries is very misleading!! The bus protest, apart from the very poor service, is also directed to the millions of money lost that were spent on constructing failed routes!!! Those millions of money could have been spent elsewhere. And millions of money were not lost only in reforming the transport system but in many other projects. Yes it's true, that unemployment rates are not bad for Malta, but the salary is what it is and with the salary remaining this low, families will always find it hard to cope with today's cost of living!!!
Jon Briffa
Nov 8th 2011, 19:09
And it is also worth noting Mr. PM that us Maltese are disappointed because you, tell us to make all this sacrifices ahead of this economic crises, only to see our sacrifices, paid through our income tax, a tax that you promised to cut, but evidently it wasn't as the money were needed to pay the consultants for creating routes that failed, for buses that never turn up. And you, with a fake smile, goes to the parliament to downgrade the protest!!
Your fellow christian democrat, Berlusconi lost the majority tonight..... although it is impossible today that you will lose majority, I hope that you'll resign come next election.
James Grech
Nov 8th 2011, 18:49
What is the PM saying? Since he feels so much on the correct side, why does he attack the opposition? Why does he have to spin so much to defend his position? Why is he trying to be offensive? Just one point. It is true that Government is spending money on an extension to the power station. Nobody, not even the opposition was against this. However the way in which the contract was stipulated sucks and the type of fuel, left a lot to be desired. His speech is more a bunch of statements against the opposition...should ppl feel proud by his way of dividing the ppl.
VV Bartolo
Nov 8th 2011, 18:47
quote: 'I am not prepared to leave the people in any doubt about the stability of the government' - PM
then to really rest our minds plz R E S I G N!!
Adrian E. Camilleri
Nov 8th 2011, 19:04
Then what?
Charlene Bonnici
Nov 8th 2011, 19:07
like :)
Anthony Muscat
Nov 8th 2011, 20:06
to make space for what????
Ms. P.M Graham
Nov 8th 2011, 18:43
"the decision to raise electricity and water tariffs was a responsible one. "
When times are tough, you don't spend money on luxuries as in "new buildings". You make do with what you have as WE are all having to do.
Paul Micallef
Nov 8th 2011, 18:53
IWhen times are tough we give a 500 EURO pay rise to ourselves???????????????????????
J Busuttil
Nov 8th 2011, 19:02
Paul Micallef
You have to add: Which labour knew about and kept secret from the people.
kevin abela
Nov 8th 2011, 19:22
@J.Busuttil
That is beside the point......They still got it!
Noel Abela
Nov 8th 2011, 18:42
Gonzi jghid kemm jidispjacieh meta talab lil poplu biex jaghmel is-sagrifficji. Qalbu perzuta ghal poplu, tad-dahk meta tiftakar li is-sagrificju ghamlu il-poplu meta hu u shabu hadu Euro500 zieda fil-gimgha paga. Tal-biki u fl'istess hin tal misthija. Jahseb li kullhadd bahna.
B Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 18:41
So the fact that Malta have I dont know how many billions of euro in debt is not a crises for Gonzi but for sure will be for the one who will follow him as a PM, and the people who have to pay then
Joseph Calleja
Nov 8th 2011, 18:35
Ah, " What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive." Dr Franco Debono, you could have solved this whole mess if only, you VOTED on Friday instead of taking the easy way out and abstained. You had the opportunity then to speak loud and clear but you decided to play it safe.
Dr Gonzi, I think you are a dollar short and a day late. You should have accepted responsibly a long time ago, when you were elected Prime Minister. You were not afraid to accept full responsibly for the City Gate Project and or the Topless Opera House, not even about squandering 4,000,000 Million euros on a useless referendum. You sat by and watched Air Malta almost go bankrupt and now stayed back seeing our bus system go into kios. You said, the buck stops here. How can you say the buck stops here, when it is already way passed your reach?
VV Bartolo
Nov 8th 2011, 18:35
il-pantomina tal-Milied giet qabel dis-sena!
jjose pace
Nov 8th 2011, 19:27
iva ghandu dritt jitkelem ghax dak ma jimxix kontra rida tal-poplu malti daqsek u ghandu dritt jesprimi opinjoni tieghu .Proset DR.franko debono il-PN ma jafordjax jitlef aktar nies min habba persuna wahda keep it up jiena kont ghandni u nipqa warak franko taqtax qalbek inti u min huwa phalek ghax jiena nazjonalist imwega hafna u jekk ma rkun inti zgur ma nivotax elezjoni li gejja jiena u familja tieghi kolla qied nidikjara min qabel .
Angelo Buhagiar
Nov 8th 2011, 18:34
Jekk il-grupp parlamentari iddecieda li jitkellmu l-Prim Ministru u l-Vici Prim Ministru, kif jigi Franco Debono, li qas biss attenda ghal-laqgha u jippretendi li jitkellem !!
Jekk jemm fid-demokrazzija ghandu joqghod ghar-rieda tal-maggoranza tal-Grupp Parlamentari !
Gino Caruana
Nov 8th 2011, 18:33
Gino Caruana
THIS IS CALLED DICTATORSHIP
H. Psaila
Nov 8th 2011, 19:00
Dictatorship when we were governed by Labour when you cannot even air your views in the street, with power and water cut off on a daily basis, lack of home commodities. That is real dictatorship or perhaps you were not around during those days.
lilly vella
Nov 8th 2011, 18:29
mhux ahjar issejjah elezzjoni halli naraw dil fiducja kollha l ghandek tissarrafx f voti, la daqsekk cert prim.
Peter Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 17:57
Why not let the man speak? Will this lead to a repeat of the Mintoff shenanigans under the Sant government ? Will the Labour party allow Debono some of the oppositions time to speak in parliament and provide him with prime airtime on their television chanel as EFA's nationalists did with Mintoff back then ? What is it they say ? " What goes around comes around " I believe !
M Borg
Nov 8th 2011, 18:21
We and all Malta knows what he has to say, so why let him repeat what he said last time ??
E Gatt
Nov 8th 2011, 18:25
The situation is different in quite a few ways.
Both prime minister Gonzi and prime minister Sant were under pressure from heading a one seat majority. Alfred Sant blew it during his infamous “Traditur” speech in the Mintoffian heartland. On the other hand, Lawrence Gonzi is proving that he has extraordinary levels of patience and I feel that this has made him grow in stature.
I personally disagree with Franco Debono’s behavior, as I find people who come across as full of self importance as irritating. Still, it would be unfair to argue that Franco Debono is as much of a megalomaniac as Mintoff was.