The crucial Budget Measures Bill and a resolution to regulate the financing company for the City Gate project were approved by the House of Representatives tonight, with Franco Debono voting in favour with the rest of the PN parliamentary group, while the members of the Opposition voted against.
The approval of the Budget Measures Bill came just a few days short of a six-month deadline. The measures were announced in the Budget speech last November.
The final vote had been delayed amid government concerns that Dr Debono might break ranks, but the political temperature went down a few notches last week when dates were set for votes on Opposition motions censuring Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Malta's representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana. Dr Debono has repeatedly criticised both.
This evening's sitting was a case of business as usual esxcept for a few minutes at the beginning when Dr Debono strongly criticised the government for having brought a raft of amendments to the Budget Measures Bill for immediate debate, saying that six months after the budget, three months after the last vote in parliament and after three weeks of Easter holidays, the government had had plenty of time for proper debate. This, he said, undermined the dignity of parliament, something which he would continue to fight against. (see separate story)
As it were, tonight's debate continued past 9 p.m., the normal hour for interruption of business.
Dr Debono this evening also backed a resolution regulating the operations of Malita plc, the government investment vehicle which will finance the City Gate project. That too was approved with 35 government votes in favour and 34 opposition votes against.
Both the Budget Measures Bill and the resolution were considered as being money bills, and failure to get them through would have probably meant the end for the government.
The Budget measures – most of which have already been brought into force - include lower tax for families with children, a new allowance for people aged over 80, tax credits for SMEs,an extension of maternity leave, removal of the television licence, an increased in Vehicle Registration Tax on the importation of vehicles with emission standards of Euro I-II or III, higher duty on cigarettes, a tax increase on fuel used for bunkering of ships outside Maltese waters, an increase in import duty on cement, an increase in state assistance to parents of children in independent schools, an allowance for children attending cultural activities, grants for solar heaters, and retention of pensions for persons with disability who find a job.
Dr Debono preferred not to comment after the votes were taken.
The Prime Minister said that with these votes now past, the government could continue to focus on the creation of jobs.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said the test for the government was whether it could win votes in parliament in a consistent manner.
Parliament is due to vote on the motion censuring Dr Mifsud Bonnici by the end of this month, with the motion on Mr Cachia Caruana due by the middle of next month.