Advert

'We are ready to govern' - Muscat

With an early election looming on the horizon, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat says his party is ready to govern.

"I have no say over the election date. I will only say we're ready for an election. More importantly, we're ready to govern," he tells The Sunday Times in an interview today.

Whichever way Nationalist rebel MP Franco Debono votes in a motion of no confidence on Thursday, the government remains unstable and unsustainable, Dr Muscat says.

The PL leader rejects claims it will not be a "safe" government if given a mandate and guarantees continuity in essential sectors like the taxation system or the EU.

"But we need a change in direction. We need to stimulate the economy. We need better leadership. The PL is safe for workers, business and the country."

Asked what he would have done if he had the likes of Dr Debono in his team, Dr Muscat said he would never allow the situation to relegate itself to such a state.

Pointing out that he too has had to deal with internal dissent on issues like divorce, Dr Muscat says leaders like Dom Mintoff and Eddie Fenech Adami managed one-seat majorities in parliament without creating instability to the country.

He says the PL electoral programme was always being updated to reflect economic realities, as well as taking into consideration the EU's fiscal pact.

Dr Muscat reiterates his principal pledge to reduce the cost of water and electricity bills but again refuses to give details. He insists such a reduction is possible through cost cutting and not subsidies.

While ruling out the possibility of a coalition government, Dr Muscat calls on critics to look at his track record in the European Parliament to prove his worth, though he pre-empts his young age to be a major tool for the PN's "scare campaign".

Watch excerpts of the interview with Herman Grech by clicking the link above or read the entire interview in The Sunday Times.

Advert

122 Comments

Post comment

Comments are submitted under the express understanding and condition that the editor may, and is authorised to, disclose any/all of the above personal information to any person or entity requesting the information for the purposes of legal action on grounds that such person or entity is aggrieved by any comment so submitted.

At this time your comment will not be displayed immediately upon posting. Please allow some time for your comment to be moderated before it is displayed.

Your User Profile is incomplete.
Please click here to complete your profile before posting comments.

Alex Ellul

Jan 23rd, 15:53

U probbabli anke inti tibqa bil kurzita, ghax l ahhar li qal: li jrahhas l-ellettriku, l-ilma - eventwalment..

Eventualment... imma meta? meta l prezz taz zejt jinzel gha $16 il barmil bhal meta kien 1996?

J. Pace

Jan 24th, 02:15

Din il-problema Michael, li ha jiggvernaw nies bl-istess ragunament bazwi bhal-tieghek!

Il-verita hi li PL ma ghandu l-ebda pjan...jparla jparla jparla...kullhadd jaf iparla Michael. U nies bhalek jemmnuh.

Anke jien naf inparla tipo - Ha nsib iz-zejt fil gardina, Valletta City ha jirbhu Champions League, Ha nirbah lotterija 5 snin ohra... paroli paroli paroli...

L-istess il-PL, ha nrahhas dawl, ha nrahhas l-ilma...paroli paroli paroli...nafu li kliem fierah ghax impossibli trahhas dawl jekk ma zziedx t-taxxa ghal xi 45%! Jew zzid xi kummiedja ohra bhal ma kienet s-sisa...

Issa ovvjament bil-livell bazwi ta ragunament li ghandek, ma fhimtx l-argument tieghi...

Issa jitla PL, u 5 snin jaghmel tibzax...ghax minn mhux ha jivvota l-PN, darba ta wara jerga johrog jivvota ghal-PN bil-patt u l-kundizjoni li sa dak iz-zmien jilhaq jitnaddaf il-partit mil-hmieg ta kandidati li ghandu.

Aaron Vella

Jan 22nd, 22:28

Don't blow his cover. The (prattikament prim ministru)'s first blunder. U l-kbir ghadu gej...

Edmond Galea

Jan 23rd, 05:42

Kif ma tisthux l-ewwel gbajtu tikkupjaw forsi xi darba tkunu fil-gvern, issa qed timtlew bil-veterani biex forsi tibnu team..... Jahasra x'jamillek l-ghatx ghal poter!!!!!!

m. borg (slm)

Jan 22nd, 23:06

A simple answer as gonziPN , the PN has gone to the dogs.

F. Pisani

Jan 23rd, 07:27

Ok PN Supporters need to be less curious yes? Ok, but in order to vote for a party we need to see what we are voting too!!!!!! If Gonzi PN has his "klikka", Muscat and friends have a "klikka" so thick that not even its electoral program is ready to reveal! If they have any.

Paul Giordimaina

Jan 23rd, 02:25

Ready to govern if the people vote you in you still got 15 months we have to finish what we started the projects which you never had the guts to do after all those years in goverernment under what you called the salvatur Mr ZERO u Sant.

M. Bezzina

Jan 22nd, 20:59

LAst time I selected Gonzi the machine gave me this: Error

j falzon

Jan 22nd, 19:45

You know what I think we should do? We should just give everyone a job regardless of whether the person is needed or not. We should also pay them really high salaries even if the company loses money and we should make sure that the state pays for absolutely everything. Wouldn't that solve all the world's problems? I can't believe it has taken us 25,000 years of human history to work this one out.

Mrs silvia debono

Jan 23rd, 12:22

Dear Mr. Vasallo, thank you so much for your advice on something you really do not know about people you do not know. We appreciated..NOT.

Aaron Vella

Jan 22nd, 22:42

What a pathetic statement. Tidher li lanqas tifhem xejn fil-politika, x'ghandu x'jaqsam Franco Debono ma Sarkozy? Jixtieq Franco Debono kellu is-successi ta' Merkel u Sarkozy... Daqs kemm zamm Alfred Sant lil Dom Mintoff meta waqqalu il-gvern, waqt li int, nista nimmagina, ivvutajt labour dak iz-zmien... Il-hasra hi li hafna laburisti jivvutaw fuq l-istess ragunament tieghek u ha jtughna prattikament prim ministru li gimgha qabel jaqa il-gvern ghadu ma qalilniex kif se jrahhas id-dawl u l-ilma! Mhux ta' b'xejn nghidu li ghatxana ghal-poter.

Emanuel. Vella.

Jan 22nd, 18:37

veru sewwa qed tghid naqbel mieghek,ahjar jiehdu over issa,it-tifel ta austin,it-tifel ta eddie jew edward,it-tifel ta ugo,u it-tifel ta gwido.demm gdid u frisk.

Emanuel Farrugia

Jan 22nd, 18:44

Ma ,kif qieghed tkexkixna bil-babaw. Tghid nofs Malta u Ghawdex li vvutaw ghal partit labruista fl-2008 ser jisi9mghu minnek. Jekk wieghed li jnaqqas ir-rati tad-dawl u l-ilma tahseb li m'ghandniex nafdawh aktar minn GonziPN li wieghed li jnaqqas l-income tax u bqajna bir-riha.

Rocco Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 18:47

Allura Angelo int trid li l-PL jghamel bhalkom jarmi l-esperjenza ta' dawk li ghandhom iz-zmien ??? Veru ma' tafhux x'inthom tghidu daqqa tghidu li Joseph ghadu zghir u ohra tghidu ghax ghandhom iz-zmien. Ta Tahseb int li dawn qadu idejhom fuq zaqqhom u ma' rawx il-bidliet li sehhu fid-dinja. Barra dan tinshiex li l-PL ghandu nies mieghu kemm zghar u kemm kbar. Li jodd taf x'inhu li jridu jahdmu bil-qalb ghax iridu jghatu xi haga lura lil pajjiz u mhux jiehdu biss. Mela ma'rajthux lil Dr.Manuel Mallia ( ex-PN) x'messagg bghat lil dawk li veru jemmnu fil-Gustizzja Socjali - it-tqassim sew tal-gid tal-pajjiz, mhux fejn il-kbir jiehu l-kejk u z-zghir jiehu l-frak ( jekk jibqa) . Li gralu l-PN bit-tmexxija ta' Gonzi !! Hadt kollox li ha minn ghand Fenech Adami ghax ma' kienx hemm Par Idejn Sodi kif kien qalilna.

David Bezzina

Jan 22nd, 21:03

SO WHAT,THAT'S POLITICS MY FRIEND.

David Bezzina

Jan 22nd, 21:04

ASK GONZI !

m. borg (slm)

Jan 22nd, 23:08

Ma tistax taqa ghc-cajt , sa issa AST mhux kandidat, issa jekk taf mod iehor int ghidilna.

Jen Fenech

Jan 23rd, 10:54

Għażiż Marc, id-differenza bejnek u bejni hija li int vera moħħok magħluq u jekk pajjiżek ikun qed jegħreq gol-ħama tivvota xorta PN basta jkun il-partit tiegħek...

raymond scicluna

Jan 22nd, 19:03

yes Dr Schembri can really help labour cause she showed how to handle a massive issue like the divorce referendum without ever feeling hot under the collar. She knew so much what she was doing that she never had to resort to hot debates or claiming any sort of divine right for the divorce. Unfortunately PN really missed a great candidate. She is totally the opposite of Dr Debono cause as the italians say A buon intenditor poche parol......u mela billi jurini c certifikati u t theddied lil prim ser jimpressjonani jew jitajjar u jitpastaz quddiem Bondi. YEs 10 points to labour on this!!

Maria Brincat

Jan 22nd, 19:00

Naqbel mieghek illi l-PN ghamlu l-frejjeg... imma ta' l-inqas ihalluna nghixu hajja suret in-nies.. imma dan .. JM kuill ma jinteressah hu li jsir PM.. m'ghandu l-ebda pjan, l-ebda policy... alura fejn tahseb li se nispiccaw bla pjan...mhux dritt ghal gol-hajt.. JM irid ikun l-izghar PM fl-istorja ta' Malta.. jekk jitla' hu, ikun l-ahhar PM fl-istorja ta' Malta, ghax jibghatna l-bahar...

U bilhaqq..jien QATT ma gabuhuli shun il-PN.. hija kwistjoni li tara l-affariijiet b'mohh miftuh..

Aaron Vella

Jan 22nd, 22:48

Mela kompli hallas Gahan, sakemm jitla l-leader! X'injoranza ta' nies.

Jack Attard

Jan 22nd, 15:00

you sound you're related to Giovanna Debona.

Edward Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 11:03

Good one Peter! The "clique" does not even take note of their MPs, let alone music experts or the general public. No wonder such baseless decisions are taken.

Keith Davis

Jan 22nd, 11:03

To give a chance?! This is not a roulette were you give it a go and you just loose some cash. This is about our childrens future. What we do today will impact us back all tomorrow.

Alex Falzon

Jan 22nd, 14:04

X;qed jikkonvincik ghax jien ghadni ftit mgerfex?

Rocco Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 12:12

Well said Williams, the wind of change is being felt and at a great wind force. A lot are believing in Joseph's Muscat party as did Dr. Manuel Mallia. He delivered a very good speech in the General PL Conference. PL for sure merits to govern our country which presently is being governed by those who scratch the back of others to scratch their in return. We Maltese people deserves a true leader.

Mariano Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 13:26

what do you know about pl?if it was for pl you wouldnt be in malta and pn has brought the country where it is now not pl

Rocco Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 18:30

Exactly so Mariano Gonzi PN has brought our country where it is.

Mr Peter Mercieca

Jan 22nd, 10:52

Dear Mrs Debono I am seriously sorry to hear your husband was made redundant by the current harsh economic situation that has seen Air Malta suffer major losses, but I cannot understand how you still believe any government can and should sustain inefficient and loss making entities, when everywhere else around you in Greece, Italy and most major economies are either on the brink of bankrupcy or implementing serioously harsh austerity measure on all sectors of their respective societies, yes an entire country going under, not just one organization that is being forced to react to the hyper competitionand changes that will eventually making it stronger. How you use your 1st time vote is up to you but don't expect any new player to handle a loss making business any different, EU rules don't allow it to play by the old economic rules.

Tonio Bone

Jan 22nd, 11:44

I fully understand your predicament, but Air Malta was heading in towards that path under any government.. Both Dr Gonzi and Dr Muscat are not miracle workers! Mistakes have been made and more mistakes will be made! The real issues here are two: when decisions are taken in 'someone's personal interest' or taking account of the vote (meaning a political decision) it is usually the wrong decision for the country and the people involved!
Your predicament has nothing to do with reason and justice I'm afraid, it is more a case of decades of bad management and not keeping up with the times!

Mariano Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 13:28

at least he received redundancy payment...pl will not have given any payments what so ever

marc pace

Jan 22nd, 12:07

good one m8
my foot he is ready to govern ga kisser weda li kien amel

Paul Giordimaina

Jan 22nd, 10:36

Later a tornado PL

stephen koludrovic

Jan 22nd, 11:05

Yup, a tornado might be needed to clear up some of the thick cobwebs that have engulfed this country.

Joseph Brincat

Jan 22nd, 11:13

Paul Giordimaina

YES YOU ARE RIGHT
LATER A TORNADO IN FAVOUR OF THE >> PL <<

Tony Agius

Jan 22nd, 12:39

OK , SO we wait till then to find out what is to happen , and after that day ? I think , if things keep going the way I can see them going , their will be another PN GROUP , with bigger majority to Govern for another five years .

Manuel Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 15:25

Do you really think the Maltese people, in their majority, are fools, dr brincat? Kien hemm zmien fejn mexxej Laburista kien ibella' kollox, imma ghadda dak iz-zmien. This election will prove that a change in government will come for change sake, not for such promises. Please prepare for a change in weather sine we have had no indication from the hon. Muscat!

A Dimech

Jan 22nd, 10:26

I tried to understand what you are saying, but I couldn't.... sorry????

Justin Spiteri

Jan 22nd, 13:07

For A. Dimech. Simplified version of my above text ... "never believe politicians".

robert pace

Jan 22nd, 10:12

MELA HSIBTU GONZI HABIB???

Carmel Xuereb

Jan 22nd, 10:28

Ftit ahjar minn Gonzi jkun zgur, l-onorarja mhux ser jaghmilha zgur, hsieb il-foqra u l-morda jiehu zgur, hafna mill-inganni u s-shab iswed minn fuq kif jittiehdu l-kuntratti jmorru zgur. Jekk Joseph Muscat jaghmel daqshekk biss ikun ahjar minn dan il-gvern ta' bla idejn.

Victor Calleja

Jan 22nd, 09:40

Xtippretendi innehhi l'income tax? Tkunx vavu? Mhux Muscat qal li se jnaqqas it taxxa min 35% ghal 25% imma Gonzi.
Paroli fil vojt qatt ma swew ghal xejn.

Justin Spiteri

Jan 22nd, 09:50

Se jirnexxilu jikkonvinci l- OPEC irahhsu z zejt ghal malta, biex ikollna kontijiet tad dawl u l- ilma orhos, possibbli ma jirnexxilux irahhas it taxxa lokali?.....

John Schembri

Jan 22nd, 13:02

@mark borg:Your comment was right about Gonzi's par idejn sodi.

Prime minister Gonzi has defects like all of us but one sure thing is that with his decisions Malta is fairing well when compared to other countries.

It’s Dr Franco Debono who will be throwing our country to the dogs out of sheer spite against his prime minister.

Give the PN fifth district voters their parliamentary seat Franco, you no longer have a right to represent them !

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Jan 22nd, 09:37

How is coalition government better? Please explain! Or is this the new twist given recent polls?

Adrian Attard Trevisan

Jan 22nd, 09:51

with all due respect Mr Cauchi ... Your argument doesn't make much sense . The economic situation around europe is getting countries that have traditionally been known to have a coalition governmental system ...to move on to Technocratic governments or more stable type of management systems . I do consider myself quite young ( in my late 20s) and I think a coalition government would basically be in a situation like having a "Franco Debono" in parliament for a full 5 years ( since the demographic situation of malta. ... will only allow a 3rd party to elect a maximum of 1 chair in parliament) ..so I don't think that a coalition government makes much sense!

V. Cauchi

Jan 22nd, 10:14

@ reply

It would really take a mature country to opt for a coalition in a system where the two main political parties stand for outdated historical origins (capitalism/ conservatism and socialism) and only have their roots in rule by social class. Problem is we cannot understand our tiny stature and that importing the Westminster system into our island lock, stock and barrel is anything but ideal, unless only temporary. We should be looking at systems like Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Iceland (the oldest Parliament), Switzerland, and understand that no major party (I was not referring to small parties) should be doing it alone around here, unless we want to keep going on with our eternal "comedie infantiles".

Jonathan Camilleri

Jan 22nd, 13:28

I agree with Mr. Camilleri, even, people living in poverty have a right to vote and must not be left to their own destiny.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Jan 22nd, 09:36

Because the PN would pinch them.

Victor Calleja

Jan 22nd, 09:43

Int qatt smajt bxi kowc li li jghati il pjan tal loghba qabel il partita lil avversarju tieghu?

Clint Zammit

Jan 22nd, 17:12

Ma ikkonvincejtniex victor bhal ma jider illi Dr muscat mux jikkonvinci lil indecizi , tirbah il fiducja billi toffri is soluzjonijiet mux ghax l avversarji huma hziena. Is soluzjonijiet mux lil ta kontrih ikun qed ittihom imma lil poplu biex ikun jista jivvutalu . Lil gonzi il poplu jista jikkritikah fuq affarijiet li derlu li ghamilhom hziena Jew li setaw saru ahjar , imma umbghad il poplu jipretendi li min qed jaspira li jmexxi floku jghid kif dawk l affarijiet se jghamilhom tajbin.

Advert
Advert