Parliament was in crisis and the people’s perception of the highest institution had greatly deteriorated, opposition spokesman for civil society Gino Cauchi told Parliament yesterday, claiming that the November Budget was “now obsolete and partially outdated”.

The government had lost control of its finances and the first two months of the year showed that the public deficit had increased by €220 million and, although the government had envisaged a total deficit of €145 million for 2012, this sum had already been surpassed in the first two months of the year.

NSO statistics showed the government had miscalculated the deficit for 2011 by 12 per cent. Interjecting, Finance minister Tonio Fenech said Eurostat had yesterday issued figures which showed Malta’s 2011 deficit at 2.7 per cent, one per cent more than had been presented in the budget.

Continuing, Mr Cauchi said it was also unacceptable that the government had presented a miscalculated budget which then had to be reduced by €40 million.

This cost-cutting had greatly affected important sectors such as the, education, social benefits and health sectors. Health Minister Joseph Cassar had boasted that he had returned €7.3 million to the Finance Ministry because these were not needed. Mr Cauchi underlined that the health budget should never have been touched.

There had been a reduction of €1 million towards Church schools, a reduction of €2.5 million towards the University of Malta and the sum of €100,000 allocated to the sports college had now been decreased to €70,000.

The sum of €230,000 had been allocated to media education broadcasting when Channel 22 now formed part of the public broadcasting.

It was unacceptable that a particular retired consultant had been appointed to help a minister at a salary of €6,000 per month. The budget allocated to consultants was greater than in 2011.

Mr Cauchi said the increase in fuel prices had not been announced by Enemalta and the increased price of gas had been ­conveniently announced on Maundy ­Thursday with the hope that it would go unnoticed.

The IMF had recently presented figures which showed Malta’s growth at 1.2 per cent, which was lower than the projected 2.3 per cent.

The government had lost its political vision and direction. The €600,000 daily interest of the national debt was exacerbating the people’s burden and decreasing his purchasing power. Malta deserved better.