Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday promised a “serious” Budget similar to the previous four in this legislature, while Labour’s leader accused him of playing with Malta’s stability.
Let us remain careful. Our country needs it
“This will be a Budget the country needs,” Dr Gonzi said.
Presenting a Budget was the Government’s priority in the run-up to the year’s end and he wanted to present one that responded to the aspirations of the Maltese people.
However, he emphasised the Budget, which is expected in November, must be responsible.
Speaking to supporters in Tarxien, Dr Gonzi quoted European Commission president Juan Manuel Barroso saying Malta was “an anchor of solidity” in the Mediterranean.
“He said it because we were careful. My appeal is: let us remain careful. Our country needs it.
“We do not have people protesting in the streets because their pensions and salaries are being cut or because they lost their jobs and factories closed,” Dr Gonzi said.
“Sure, we have many people who are grumbling. But it’s better to have what we have than what is happening in other countries which are slipping into social crises.”
Labour leader Joseph Muscat accused the Government of playing with the country’s stability by dragging it into a Christmas election campaign, while risking starting next year without an approved Budget.
The Prime Minister had been warned by one of his MPs (Franco Debono) that if a particular minister (Austin Gatt) stayed in Parliament, he would vote against the Budget, Dr Muscat said.
The Government was already in a form of coalition with independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, he added.
Therefore, the Prime Minister was risking going into 2013 without an approved Budget, denying the country the stability it needed at a time of international recession and the introduction of EU and eurozone rules.
Appealing to Dr Gonzi to stop putting his party before the country, Dr Muscat said the Government still had a little time in which to rectify this situation, but did not specify how.
Dr Muscat reiterated the Budget was an opportunity to hold the Government responsible for its actions. However, he also lamented that the Government was leading the country into an official or unofficial electoral campaign throughout the Christmas period, which, he said, was the most important time for businesses.