Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that the government was focused only on clinging to power, but every day it stayed on was a day lost for Maltese businesses and families.
He said Labour was not in any hurry. In parliament, at the proper time, it would do what needed to be done, especially if the government continued to object to what the majority of MPs wanted to have debated in the House.
Speaking in a PL activity in Pembroke, Dr Muscat underlined the need for the workers to enjoy more purchasing power. He said the country's economic development was being held by the government itself, notably because of the high utility rates.
But for the government, the priority was how to cling on to power.
The government's position, he said, was untenable. The government was not focused on the realities of the country.
Every day that the government persisted in ignoring realities was a day lost for Maltese families and businesses, he said.
He said the government was not realising that unemployment was rising again. In August unemployment was up 5.5% on the same month last year, one of the steepest increases in recent years. The jobs record which the government boasted about was disappearing. Furthermore, the pre-budget document showed that only 4,000 jobs had been created in four years.
Dr Muscat said the people would not be impressed by pre-election favours for things which were theirs by right.
The Labour leader said the government was lurching from one crisis to another. A year ago a series of events kicked off, and it was clear that the government had lost its majority in parliament, with the government twice surviving through the Speaker's casting vote.
The prime minister then said he would go to speak to people in their kitchen. Even that had not resulted.
Malta now had a coalition government but it was far from business as usual. And the crises were not provoked from the PL but from GonziPN itself as a result of the style of leadership of the prime minister and his circle - a style which John Dalli had described as apartheid in that those who did not obey were excluded.
"We are not in any hurry. In parliament, at the proper time, we will do what will need to be done," Dr Muscat said. A clear majority in the House wanted parliament to discuss items which the government, arrogantly, was continuing to resist. The Opposition, he said, would work serenely. The government could run, but it could not hide.
It was up to the prime minister to decide when he called the election. Time passed quickly and the PL would remain calm, determined and united.
Dr Muscat also referred to 'lies' making the rounds. He said Labour would retain student stipends and if they were touched, it would be only to be raised. And, he said contrary to what being rumoured, there would be no tax on property.
CONGRATULATIONS
At the opening of his address Dr Muscat congratulated Mgr Charles Scicluna on his nomination as Auxiliary Bishop of Malta and said this was good news for the Church in Malta.
He also congratulated the government for the good organisation of the 5+5 meeting on Friday and yesterday.