Updated: Good Budget feeling tempered by uncertainty
Video: Mark Zammit Cordina
Unions and employers were given heads up on the Budget by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech this morning... and at the end of it they seemed pleased.
The two-hour presentation to the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, a forum for social partners, was delivered a day before Mr Fenech reads out the last Budget of this administration.
The minister is expected to partially fulfill an electoral pledge to lower the top income tax rate by spreading out the reduction over three years.
But a dark shadow hangs over the Budget after backbencher Franco Debono said he will vote against.
The threat did not go unnoticed in the meeting with Stefano Mallia from the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Enterprise telling journalists after, it was important the country woke up on January 1 with an approved Budget.
He called on MPs to put the national interest first and do away with the uncertainty.
The concern was also raised by UHM general secretary Josef Vella.
Union leaders were generally pleased but GWU general secretary Tony Zarb expressed disappointment because the Minister ignored three quarters of his union's proposals.
The social partners agreed that all depended on the final outcome of tomorrow's Budget, which Mr Fenech said will continue to be fine-tuned till the last minute.
Mr Fenech described the meeting as positive and said he took note of some concerns raised. He is expected to brief Cabinet later on this morning on the Budget.
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Charles Massa
Nov 27th 2012, 19:40
National interest first. Dan il kliem imisshom qaluh lil Dr Gonzi li minkejja l incertezza u l instabbilita fil pajjiz ghal dawn l ahhar 12 il xahar baqa ghaddej. Li kieku ried l interessi tal pajjiz, il prim ministru imissu sejjah elezzjoni zmien ilu. b hekk kien ikollna budget Imma issa l pajjiz irid ibati l konsegwenzi tal egoizmu tal PN. Dak iz zmien imisshom tkelmu tal UHM u ta Chamber
Joseph Grech Attard
Nov 27th 2012, 15:19
By the look of it this is going to be the best budget of the past 5 years. Why is that? Are we all in a much better financial situation than we were 5 years ago? If the budget does not pass will it be the fault of the PL because they do not " ... put the national interest first and do away with the uncertainty" as stated by Stefano Mallia, a member of the CCIE? Did any Opp. ever approved a budget?
victor bonello
Nov 27th 2012, 13:54
So to the last minute GonziPN is still thinking the people are fools. We have been given so many unfulfilled promises by this Government and have sunk into debt. Now, GonziPN wants to hang a carrot for those that are easily fooled. The clique has spent the last 4 years holidaying and feathering their nests, while handing out crumbs. At the last minute we are about to be invited to table. Too late
Angelo Vassallo
Nov 27th 2012, 12:58
@ Lawrence Borg
The opposition ALWAYS votes against the Budget and the Budget will always pass through because the opposition is always in a minority. If Franco Debono votes with the opposition that the Budget will not be approved.
Angelo Vassallo
Nov 27th 2012, 12:51
@ William Caligari
Ghandek zball tafx. Jekk il-Budget ma jghaddiex, il-lejburisti fil-gvern ikollhom jghamlu budget iehor huma ghaliex mhux ser ikunu jafu kif ser iwettqu dak tan-Nazzjonalisti.
William Caligari
Nov 27th 2012, 19:31
@ Angelo Vassallo,
ibqa zomm mal-verzjoni tieghek, kif sa' naghmel jien.
Mario Scicluna
Nov 27th 2012, 12:46
'He called on MPs to put the national interest first ..'
Isn't this the same Stefano Mallia, a renowned PN activist , currently an aide de camp in MEP Simon Busuttil’s team? So there is uncertainty then Stefano, declared otherwise by PM Gonzi! Is Mr. Mallia also referring also to Ministers that failed to deliver and eluded accountability towards the electorate? Power of incumbency rings a bell?
Joe A. Borg
Nov 27th 2012, 12:42
"electoral pledge to lower the top income tax rate by spreading out the reduction over three years."
A budget can NEVER promise things beyond its term!
Simply put, the promise to lower the TAX rate to 25% was not delivered in full during this legislature.
J Martinelli
Nov 27th 2012, 14:30
".. the promise to lower the TAX rate to 25% was not delivered in full during this legislature"
And the world didn't end even if so predicted several times in the last 10 years. But a world financial crisis did occur forcing a change in plans. So, had Joseph been PM would he have still lowered the Income Tax? Would he have left some in one pocket and taken more from your other?
Some economist!
Joseph Grech Attard
Nov 27th 2012, 15:24
Such a situation would have never occured if JM was PM. He would not have never let corruption reign, despite a 6 billion Euro debt, most of which was used to please extreme Capiitalism of a cliique. And this did not happen only in Malta. Hence the international crisis.!!!
Nazzareno Cortis
Nov 27th 2012, 15:40
Martinell-----perhaps and if ----according to your question-----"So, had Joseph been PM"------the probability would be that the nation would not have a debt of 5000,0000,000 ewros !!! So I think yes--he would probanly have lowered the income tax rate!!!!
Look at the present gov. he is binding the next gov.for the next three years to complete his 2008 promise!!! This sure is not fair!!!
Joseph Brincat
Nov 27th 2012, 12:30
Chamber of Commerce called on MPs to put the national interest first and do away with the uncertainty
In the national uncertainty interest first we have to put Gonzi pn aside then we can move forward ,
BUDGET PASS OR NOT !!!
Angelo Vassallo
Nov 27th 2012, 12:24
@ Lawrence Borg
Dear lawrence, no you did not get anything at all right but GOT IT ALL WRONG. Without anybody mentioning the name, they were referring to Franco Debono's vote in parliament which will determine the approval or not of the budget for 2013.
Lawrence Borg
Nov 27th 2012, 12:31
So you think that the nationalist media will not try to spin the fact that labour will vote against the budget because they 'dont have the national interest at heart'?
J Martinelli
Nov 27th 2012, 14:41
You are right Lawrence. If the Budget is good and makes sense under present circumstances, Labour would be spiteful if it votes against it. It may be politically permissible but it would still be morally and economically wrong. It doesn't take any spin by anyone to see that denying a good Budget is like putting a gun at taxpayers' heads.
A Labour govt would be expected to do better. Can it?
Joseph Grech Attard
Nov 27th 2012, 15:29
There is not one single budget that suits both sides of the house! If therenis, then we should,have a National Government from both sides of the house. That happens only during wartime. There were many social laws voted against byt the PN - income tax, vote for women, vote at 18, children's allowance, free university, pensions, etc. The PL would do a big mistake if it votes with the government.
William Caligari
Nov 27th 2012, 12:21
Mr.Josef Vella ghandek certezza li,l'bagit jghaddi jew ma jghaddx
xorta sa' jkun attwat, dan qalu l-mexxej laburista Dr. Joseph Muscat.
Angelo Vassallo
Nov 27th 2012, 12:12
Toni Zarb was disappointed that the government did not take heed to his union's proposal to revert back to the employees the Public Holidays falling on Saturdays and Sundays.
What Toni Zarb conveniently does not mention is that it was only HIS and HIS UNION'S fault that the employees lost these days as the gwu was the only member on the MCESD not to sign the SOCIAL PACT piloted by the UHM.
Lawrence Borg
Nov 27th 2012, 12:08
If I am getting it right, are Mr. Mallia and the representative of the UHM, indirectly asking for the Opposition to vote in favour of the Budget? Let me see did Gonzi and EFA vot in favour of the Labour Budgets presented between 1996 - 1998?
I think GonziPN should sort out the mess he brought upon himself and the country before asking Labour to 'help' him out. He is alone on this one!
C Falzon
Nov 27th 2012, 11:49
Ara Mr Stefano Mallia....mela ma kontx qed tghix Malta din l ahhar sena?? Mela ghandna incertezza ghax skond il PM it s business as usual??
John Scerri
Nov 27th 2012, 11:44
''Union leaders were generally pleased but GWU general secretary Tony Zarb expressed disappointment because the Minister ignored three quarters of his union's proposals......''
I cannot recall Tony Zarb or any former GWU secretary express approval for budgets by PN governments.
If anyone out there could refresh my memory feel free . I am all eyes.
Paul Zammit
Nov 27th 2012, 11:38
I have a feeling that the gov's done his best this time in the budget ...partly cause election's at the door and partly to cast a huge black dark shadow on Franco should he vote against! .. Franco ... if u vote against a great budget, the nation will not like u much ... succinctly, take is easy son!
C Mercieca
Nov 27th 2012, 11:26
Mr Stefano Mallia called on members of parlament to put the national interest first and so away with uncertainty. Where was Mr Mallia during past months? Why he didn't call on the government to call it a day and not continue governing against the people will. Also, apart from the opposition, there are members of government who do not have trust in Ministers, We need a stable government.
Mr G Naudi
Nov 27th 2012, 12:30
Stefano Mallia is correct in what he said. This is not a matter of PN or LP. if a budget is good for you, me, our families, neighbours and all alike why should we kick it out of the window just for spite! Any opposition will never back a budget being it LP or PN or abroad but what he asked is for FD not to vote against for the sake of the people. Elections are going to happen in March xorta!
Please choose the reason of your report below: