Labour resorting to false accusations, says Gonzi

The opposition motions being debated in Parliament showed the dark side of politics based on backstabbing and personal attacks rather than constructive debate, Prime Minster Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.

What we are seeing is nothing other than the vindictive face of the Labour Party

“What we are seeing is nothing other than the vindictive face of the Labour Party that is coming up with false accusations.

“This is unethical... I am ready to fight this,” he said during a radio interview aired on the Nationalist Party’s station, Radio 101.

Dr Gonzi referred to the opposition motion, now before Parliament, censuring Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, for allegedly attempting to bypass Parliament in his negotiations on a dispute in 2004 over the country’s participation in EU-Nato talks.

The second motion, that will start being debated on Wednesday, censures Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici for the handling of his ministry that, until some time ago, also included the justice portfolio.

Dr Gonzi said the PL was showing its true colours and trying to force the resignation of both men, unethically, by making false accusations.

He referred to an item that appeared on The Sunday Times yesterday exposing the lies in the case of the 2004 dispute. On Wednesday, Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman George Vella said the matter had been kept secret by the government but The Sunday Times pointed out that the issue had been reported in the media.

Dr Gonzi referred to Labour MEP Edward Scicluna, an economist, and accused him of changing his professional opinion – about the sustainability of free health care - according to political convenience.

Prof. Scicluna used to say a free health care system was not sustainable but once he entered politics his views changed. “His views are now driven by political convenience,” Dr Gonzi said, adding that Prof. Scicluna was demeaning his own technical credibility. In a statement reacting to Dr Gonzi’s comments, Prof. Scicluna said: “There is no doubt that the Prime Minister’s statement reflects the government’s lack of ideas in the area of public finance. If the Prime Minister wants to debate his definition of free health care with its record of patients left in corridors, long waiting lists for operations and a shortage of drugs I shall be happy to oblige.”

Dr Gonzi guaranteed that he would ensure the country retained a free health care system. His government worked hard to ensure the country did well financially so that the money could be spent on ensuring social justice.

He said that rumours had it that, if Labour were elected to government, Prof. Scicluna would be appointed Finance Minister. He said Prof. Scicluna could not be trusted in that position since he had spoken against free health care and had said that the students’ stipends system was unsustainable.

A Nationalist government would retain stipends, which were essentially an investment in the country’s human resources.

Dr Gonzi accused Labour Leader Joseph Muscat of copying a campaign logo – guaranteeing jobs to young people – used by the Party of European Socialists.

Dr Gonzi said the campaign was designed for other countries where unemployment was higher. The European campaign also spoke against liberalisation, which Dr Muscat was therefore endorsing, he said.

The PL said in reaction that Dr Gonzi was attacking Prof. Scicluna because he was aware that he did not have competent economists in his team. Dr Gonzi was defending his clique rather than safeguarding the interests of families and businesses, Labour said.