Labour to retain Budget benefits...and price rises
Three Labour spokesmen this afternoon gave a detailed analysis of the Budget but failed to give details of what the party would do differently. They indicated that a Labour government would retain both the benefits of the Budget as well as the price rises which were announced in the Finance Minister's speech.
Karmenu Vella, shadow minister for finance, said there was an abnormal situation in the country since the Budget might not be approved in parliament.
To deter instability, Labour had committed to implement the Budget framework, as proposed by the government, even though it left a lot to be desired, he said.
Mr Vella compared the situation to a cooking show where chefs were given the same ingredients to make competing meals.
"We would have preferred to buy the ingredients ourselves, but in this case, we have been given the ingredients," he said, stressing that a united Labour team was committing to delivering the Budget's measures more comprehensively than the Government, which failed to deliver many of its own Budget measures in the previous four years.
Charles Mangion, shadow minister for economic affairs, confirmed that Labour would retain the increase in excise duties announced yesterday (on cigarettes, fuel and cement) as well as the income tax cutss. However, it would seek to redress the current situation where those on minimum wage would now be taxed around €60 a year.
MEP Edward Scicluna gave an analysis from the macro-economic perspective and pointed out that the country's biggest challenge was reducing the debt and deficit.
He said Malta's finances were under investigation according to the EU's Alert Mechanism Report and though this should not raise alarm, it shows that the country's finances should always be kept under control.
"This is not an exam that we pass once," he said, urging for the Budget to be examined more closely.
He pointed out that some of the deficit projections given to the EU and the International Monetary Fund were not in line with those which featured in the Budget.
Asked what Labour would remove from the Budget, Mr Vella said Labour in Government must implement the whole proposed package because it would otherwise have to reopen discussions with the EU.
Pushed to give a concrete example, he said Labour was seeking ways of redressing the "anomaly" where minimum wage earners would now be taxed.
Asked to give another example, Mr Vella said this Budget did not address the high water and electricity rates.
At one point during the press conference, Mr Vella said Labour would reduce water and electricity rates from the first year.
Asked at the end of the press conference to confirm that this was the case, Mr Vella denied saying the reduction would come in the first year. He then said he meant to say that this would "start to be addressed immediately". Details, he said, would be given in the manifesto which would be published once an election was called.
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Ms L Dimech
Dec 4th 2012, 15:00
How incredible can the PL be? Suppose for the sake of argument they shoot the budget down and next election get elected into government. What would they say if a Nationalist Opposition then shot down the budget the PL would present?
And whilst they're at it why publish an electoral manifesto at all? Just wait for the NP one and declare you will also adhere to it so nobody loses out !!
R Camilleri
Dec 3rd 2012, 20:44
aaa the PL :)) the Godsent problem solver..just in time :))
jonathan saliba
Dec 1st 2012, 02:15
nuqqas ta ideat min naha tal partit laburista.
Victor Pulis
Nov 30th 2012, 14:08
I suspect that the PL is playing a card where it is pandering for the disgruntled nationalist voters. Saying look, if you vote for us we will still give you the goodies and you will have taken revenge on the PN.
Anthony Falzon
Nov 30th 2012, 09:58
So the M.L.P. agrees with the Gonzi/pn budget and not with the proposals of the G.W.U.
Alfred J. McEwen
Nov 30th 2012, 09:09
``Start to be addressed immediately`` means that the Labour Government has no intention of lowering the water and electricity rates EVER, all Vella is doing is dodging the question and attempting to give a skewed answer. It would look better on them if they were honest about it so consumers would know where they stand. The lying has already started.
A Vella
Nov 30th 2012, 08:56
They want to do things differently, even at the cost of tampering with progress as long as it is different, or is it?Looking forward to the days when we have a real opposition, those will be good days.
carmen delia
Nov 30th 2012, 08:56
@ j brincat
TWENTY FIVE YEARS in goverment speak for themselves
without direction PN would not have lasted that long
robert pace
Dec 1st 2012, 14:49
And look were they too us long road to Hell, especially those at Sea malta, Drydocks and Air malta ....Next Enemalta???
P. Barbara
Nov 30th 2012, 08:52
@ Pat Muscat
Every time that you mention 25 years is too long a time to stay in power, (and I agree,) you are also implying that there is NO real alternative to this government!!!
leli farrugia
Nov 30th 2012, 08:42
Sinjura nixtieq ngharfek illi b effet imedjat ha jghola naqa il prezz tal hobz , ghax dak li jgib id dqiq gholilu il fuel u dak li jqassmu ukoll , tal grocer ukoll ta smajt ghax ta delivery gholilu il fuel ukoll u tal gas tinkwetax 1 euro biss zdiet jekk trid tifranka ghamel bhal antiki ixtri kenur u sajjar bil hatab , ghax jaf fl 1 ta dicembru jerga jghola ftit il fuel , il gurnata tajba
Joseph Brincat
Nov 30th 2012, 08:05
Shame , shame shame ,
The big BIG problem of Gonzi pn is, to try to convince the
pn to vote for the pn for they lost fate in him for the future
NOW even the minimum wage earners will pay tax.
Maria Camilleri
Nov 30th 2012, 07:57
La behsiebkom izzommu l-beneficcji jekk tkunu fil-gvern, tafu li kien budget tajjeb u favur il-poplu.
A.Felix Busuttil
Nov 30th 2012, 08:57
l Labour qal dawk li huma tajbin u ta benifitju jinzammu ohrajn jitnehhew u jizdiedu ohrajn.
Biex illum issir budget trid iggib approvazzjoni mill EU. Il Labour se jkun fil gvern nofs Marzu 2013, ma jistax jahli hin sa kemm iggib l-approvazzjoni.
Wara kollox il budget huwa bzar fl-ghajnejn,insejet sinjura kem gholew l-affarijiet f'hames snin, u kemm ghandu inkwiet Gonzi fil partit.
Mr Stefan Kottmann-Soler
Nov 30th 2012, 19:39
Felix Busuttil - minn fejn gibtha li l-budget ghandha bzonn approvazzjoni mill-EU? As if!
David Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 07:54
"Opposition:
Noun: 1.Resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument.
2.A group of adversaries or competitors, esp. a rival political party or athletic team."
On a vital issue such as the budget, the Labour Party lost its title of 'opposition'. I'm not a sympathiser of the current PN administration but on this one I totally agree with PN - Labour is not ready to govern.
B Ellul
Nov 30th 2012, 07:34
'Mr Vella denied saying the reduction would come in the first year' love this :)
John Mifsud
Nov 30th 2012, 07:19
A simple question to all PN acolytes. If the PL said that they would throw the budget measures in the bin, what would your reaction be? Something like 'see, the PL is against the COLA increase, the reduction in income tax etc.'
The PL is fortunately not playing the PN game.
In tonight's PN deputy leadership contest Dr Fenech should get 90% of votes thanks to this impeccable budget!!!!!!
Anthony Scicluna
Nov 30th 2012, 08:09
John, sorry I beg to differ. I would have expected the MLP to offer a real alternative. MLP are floundering because they know it is a good budget and they have no real alternative to stimulate economic growth. Instead of saying min wage earners have an increase of 440 Euros, they twist and say that they are now paying 60 Euros tax. Is that fair?
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 30th 2012, 10:01
What games are you talking about? Here we are talking about the good of the country. It would be wrong for PL to reject everything; but saying we will keep it as it is implies they have no ideas of their own!! Or at least; they are doing their best to make it seem as if they are the same as the nationalist!!
A Mercieca
Nov 30th 2012, 07:14
Seeing PL billboards the day after the budget, I asked myself But was it Tonio Fenech presenting the budget yesterday or PL ? Later they came out with this... They can't humiliate themselves more. If in Malta there is poverty, unemployment and all the troubles in the world, what better tool than the Budget would a govt have? This is a matter of credibity a word which PL and JM can't spell.
Noel Damato
Nov 30th 2012, 05:11
Dan kif, dawk li ghadhom kif qalu li l- budget kien posittiv issa anke qed jajdu li anke fih in- negattive. Malta trid Prim Min gdid li jkun dinamiku, modern, HONEST,integru u mhux giddieb bhal ma hu dan il Gvern. Dr Muscat huwa l-bniedem perfett biex inaddaf pajjiz min oliargisti u klikkek li gabu pajjiz id-dettat minnhom u ta madwarhom.
Joseph Mifsud
Nov 30th 2012, 01:00
Al dawk kollha hawn taht li qed imaqdru....
Hadd ma nduna li dan il budget huwa frott ta loghba politika min naha tal gvern? Mela ha jkun l ahhar budget....hemm cans li ma jghaddix.....u l opposizzjoni ikollha taghmel il mirakli biex tipprovdi alternattiva. Xahrejn ilu Gonzi qal li jkun irresponsabli jekk inaqqas it taxxa issa. Issa sar responsabbli? Qatt rajtu budget aqwa? Ala ma sarx qabel?
S. Cuschieri
Nov 30th 2012, 08:33
Ilna naraw budgets tajbin ghal dawn l-ahhar 4 snin. Il-PN m'ghandux bzonn dan il-budget biex juri x'inhuma jaghmlu fil-pajjiz - l-istatistici jitkellmu wahedhom u l-feedback li taghtina l-eu turi li l-pajjiz mexa l-quddiem minkejja krizi internazzjonali.
L-oppozizjoni m'ghandiex taghmel mirakli, kull ma trid taghmel hu li tohrog b'ideat godda; imma ma jafux x'ghandhom jaghmlu sfortunatament!
Richard Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 08:46
Jekk dan il-budget hu frott ta' loghba politika ghalfejn il-lejber qed jghid li ha jzommu, bit-tajjeb u l-hazin?
Missu qal li dan hu loghba politika u li mhux ser jonorah ghax il-lejber ghandu ahjar.
Bilfors li l-lejber m'ghandu xejn ippjanat, nimxu minn gurnata ghall-ohra skont kif jaqbel!
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 30th 2012, 10:02
I lopposizzjoni qablet li dan il budget possibli ... therefore we will know where we have to point our fingers if they get elected and we do not get these projection!!!
jonathan saliba
Dec 1st 2012, 02:13
jien nahseb li int tghix fxi globu ghalik habib..........
Frans Aguis
Nov 30th 2012, 00:30
Put things into perspective ppl.This was the last budget before the election.Did anyone think there would be serious attempts to tackle debt problem?GonziPN gave as much as they could just like in 2008,so taunting PL to vote against it.Pure politics,no care to what the country actually needs, just the looming election.So while GonziPN is being so popularist before the election,why shouldnt the PL?
Alex Ellul
Nov 30th 2012, 00:04
So we have GonziPN in government, JospehPN in opposition(sort of), and three very angry musketeers waiting for the kill. But JosephPN may just vote in favour of the GonziPN budget... Boring parliament. What's showing in the cinemas these days?
Daniel Galea
Nov 29th 2012, 23:15
This is a clear proof,if there was a need for one, that PL has no idea how to govern. All they need is our vote.But they will not get it..
As regards thid secret plan how to reduce the electricity bills, their plan is to built a new power station or convern the existing one to gas. But this will take more than 5 years to materialize. I will not change a government for this carrot
pat muscat
Nov 29th 2012, 21:59
The question is: when are we going to become real Europeans and ditch the Party in Government every five to ten years or so? 25 years is to much to bear especially now that the GonziPN system is imploding and is not even capable of garnering a majority!
Denis Pace
Nov 30th 2012, 08:42
you are right...BUT....there has to be a viable alternative...........do you normally give out blank cheques?
Schembri Ray
Nov 29th 2012, 21:46
If the PL is agreeing with the budget, let's hope that he'll vote for it.
Liza Zarb
Nov 29th 2012, 21:40
Partit Laburista qed juri kemm l-interess tal-pajjiz jigi l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Minn issa qed juri serjeta f'dak kollhu li jaghmel u li iwieghed.
R. Farrugia
Nov 30th 2012, 08:07
Joke ! If he is so in favour .. letºs see him vote in favour of the Budget !
or does he want to regain power that much ? that he will go against what he is saying ..
carlos ellul
Nov 29th 2012, 21:39
We had a year of non governance and buzulotti. If the gonzipn is too afraid to pull the plug and trust the people judgement then the pl must do it.
Victor Pulis
Nov 29th 2012, 21:38
What I can't understand is why the PL will be voting against a budget which they willl implement if they're in government. Unless the sole purpose is to force the government to go for an early election.
David Caruana
Nov 30th 2012, 08:02
Don't blame the opposition for opposing (and therefore vote against) the Government. If there's an early election, the only ones to blame are those leading the PN because they couldn't take care of their own internal disputes.
Mr Hans Borg
Nov 29th 2012, 21:29
GonziPN has cornered itself in a position where their only hope of having a budget approved is to turn to Labour and beg them to vote in favor. So much so for Par Idejn Sodi!
G G Debono
Nov 29th 2012, 21:15
Very convenient from an election point of view
But surely decreasing income tax for higher earners goes against the principles of the labour party?
The only conclusion that one can reach is that PL are hedging their bets for the election by playing up to voters - what a shame ! .
Mr M Spiteri
Nov 29th 2012, 21:15
What are you bloggers complaining about. Don't you know that price increases are already in place and effective as from today. What Labour is promising is that since PN has already imposed the increases as from today, a Labour Government will honour the benefits if in governement.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 21:01
This is a very good budget. This budget would not have been possible if not for the good administration of the nationalist government these last 5 years. By agreeing with this budget LEJBER is agreeing with the fact that the nationalist have done a GREAT job for these last 5 years!!
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 20:53
Lejber have showed to the Maltese that after 25 years in the opposition they are still NOT READY for the job!! No problem for next year if they win the election! PN has already done a very good budget for them ... BUT WHO WILL DO THEM THE BUDGET THE YEAR AFTER!!!??? They will ask PN to do it for them as well??
R. Farrugia
Nov 30th 2012, 08:07
Exactly !
Francis Farrugia
Nov 29th 2012, 20:21
Mr.Vella said" The LP will retain the budget as it is and try to improve on it. He also said this budget did not address the high water and electricity rates. For me this means that nothing will be done on this rates because they have not been mentioned in the budget. And then if nothing will be done to minimize these rates it will be the fault of PN because it was not mentioned in the budget
Richard Caruana
Nov 29th 2012, 20:13
OK, thanks fot telling us. We might as well keep the PN in Government then, better the devil you know!
And, by the way, what has happened to JM's promise to refund the car taxes that he trumpeted out with such vigour years ago? That would require around £50 million, still no idea where the money is going to come from?
Malcolm Mizzi
Nov 29th 2012, 20:34
we both know where that money will come from.. .our wallets
Charles Vella
Nov 29th 2012, 20:57
better the devil you know!
AND HOW!!!
David Magro
Nov 30th 2012, 05:54
Mr.Caruana, I m afraid of the devil as if elected again it would strenghten the Oligarchy, corruption and dictatoral systems. We had enough of these. JM commitment is there and would stand. It would lower the eleectricity bill, something the GonziPN is not willing to promise and yes the refund promise still exist....Joseph Muscat delivers my friend unlike your GonziPN who promise too much and does
Rachel Borg
Nov 30th 2012, 08:11
Mr Magro, I hope that you realise that if JM cuts down electricity tarrifs he will take them from somewhere else for sure. This is LOGICAL. an example with this budget, LG will give us a pay rise but then he increased petrol,cement etc....and by the way how much it is factual that Labour delivers?
Alfred Vassallo
Nov 30th 2012, 09:27
'' better the devil you know!'' Sorry ta, but gonzipn had been toooooo much of a devil so much so that even your MPs had it up to here. So no a change is needed forthwith!
Ruben Mifsud
Nov 29th 2012, 20:00
Question; Than why do we need to change Goverment???
David Farrugia
Nov 29th 2012, 21:02
Simple...it is the same reasoning why you wipe yourself each time after visiting the loo.
Joseph Brincat
Nov 29th 2012, 21:02
BECAUSE WE DO NOT WONT ANOTHER 6 Billion euros debt !!!
Vince Piscopo
Nov 29th 2012, 21:27
To get rid of arrogance and oligarchy.
carlos ellul
Nov 29th 2012, 21:30
Ask that to the par idejn sodi. He had been delaying the general election date. Let the people decide if the gonzipn has been succesful or not
Denis Pace
Nov 30th 2012, 08:43
To get WHAT instead?
BAHH!
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 30th 2012, 10:06
@carlos ellul
Lejber is telling that to us already. They agree that PN have done very well through out these last five years and they agree they have come with a good sustainable budget. It is as if lejber is telling you to vote PN!! Maybe the only sound thing they every said through out their history!!
Tommy Vella
Nov 29th 2012, 19:52
With regard to the reduction in energy tariffs, we have already started backtracking.
Tommy Vella
Nov 29th 2012, 19:51
I have said it once and I will say it again, what better endorsement than this for the government and its policies?
Mario Farrugia
Nov 29th 2012, 19:49
This was a public admission by the PL of PN's success in running the economy, no more and no less.
Mark Bezzina
Nov 29th 2012, 20:30
Well said mario
George Cutajar
Nov 29th 2012, 19:42
Could the PL at least be so kind and tell us what they would have presented for 2013 had the election taken place last March? Will they at least let us know how they plan to keep the utilities price promise and the promise to refund close to Eur 50 million in respect of VAT paid on car registration? The PN has outlined it's policies in yesterday's budget and the election is round the corner.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 20:58
Matarax ... they are like six year old children afraid that others (which are Maltese like them) will copy their ideas!!! Pity they do not realise that if they say them, and PN copy, then they can say that they copied ... but the truth is that lejber has nothing prepared!!
j brincat
Nov 29th 2012, 19:40
@carmen delia
"Lejber with no fresh ideas let alone direction"
And tell us where GonziPN's ideas & direction are.
Implementing a half baked measure five years later (tax) and not reducing the public debt and deficit as pormosed in 2008!
This saying nothing about the fabulous 7000 IT jobs in Ghost City and the phantom Sports Village!
(jb)
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 20:56
@j brincat ... but the lejber you love so much is telling us that the budget is good!! What are you so angry about!?? Lejber - by agreeing with this budget - is telling us that deep inside they know that this government has managed more then fine given what is out there!!
Elton Abela
Nov 29th 2012, 19:36
Dawn l-ideat godda ta' Joseph Muscat u ta' madwaru??! Min irid il-bidla, x'bidla ha jkun ha fir-realta??!
U jekk skond il-Labour il-finanzi tal-pajjiz jinsabu fi stat dizastruz, kif ha jirnexxilu jzomm il-mizuri tajbin kollha tal-budget u maghhom izid it-tnaqqis fid-dawl u l-ilma??
Il-bidla ghall-ahjar fil-hajja tac-cittadin, Gvern Nazzjonalista biss jiggarantiha.
Charles Vella
Nov 29th 2012, 21:00
Bidla ta qaghad u dwejjaq... with no credentials, and no proper measures or plans, just for the sake of being PRIME MINISTER AT AGE 38, we are heading into austerity measures... it's happened around us! Malta is part of the world too you know! One fatal mistake, and we've had it!
Imbghad Joseph Muscat jighdila... skuzawni, hadt zabll bhal ma qal fil kaz ta Cipru! Spiccaw bil bailout!
Joseph Brincat
Nov 29th 2012, 19:31
BUDGET ,COUNTDOWN DAYS to be APPROVED >> 11DAYS TO GO ??
NO HARD FEELINGS , JUST TO REMIND YOU
GEORGE S DARMANIN
Nov 29th 2012, 21:19
All good things come to an end. Or not?
25 years might be a very long wait for some. And BTW no hard feelings just to remind you.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 30th 2012, 10:07
@GEORGE S DARMANIN
For the good of this country, we have to aim for 30!!
A Said
Nov 29th 2012, 19:22
Cant understand how you can vote against a budget, which you will implement just in case PL will be elected!!!! Is it good or bad for the maltese economy!?!!??? if its good, why do you vote against the Budget then? And then every politician says that they are there for the benefit of the country!!!! My foot!!!
E. De Marco
Nov 29th 2012, 19:20
only when I larf!!
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Nov 29th 2012, 19:20
If this is not “Panic Station” for Labour, then I don’t know what is!
JC.
Alex Falzon
Nov 29th 2012, 19:11
This is unbelievable..!! I wonder what Karmenu Vella and all those involved in drafting the PL manifesto for the next general election... so they would keep and implement the same PN budget... keep insisting on reducing tariff rates (no big deal) ... keep blaming the government for presenting no goodies but they will use the same presentation.. simply pathetic by a party doomed for 25 years in opp
William Caligari
Nov 29th 2012, 19:06
Jekk il-Gvern jigi milghub fl-10 ta' Dicembru, ghaliex ghandhu jdum
ma jsejjah l-elezzjoni, sa' nofs Jannar 2013.
Fid-9 ta' Marzu ghalfejn? Pika?
Intom li qed tiktbu hawn taht, dak li hu tajjeb, jibqa tajjeb, jaghmlu min jaghmlu
tajjeb jibqa , jaghmlu Gonzi jew Muscat, x'differenza tghaddi.!!!!
George Cremona
Nov 29th 2012, 19:03
"They indicated that a Labour government would retain both the benefits of the Budget as well as the price rises which were announced in the Finance Minister's speech." How confusing and unconvincing the PL is. Then why is it voting against the budget?
carmen delia
Nov 29th 2012, 18:58
Lejber with no fresh ideas let alone direction
they only keep harpering about reducing water and electricity tariffs . its all they could think of
scott brown
Nov 29th 2012, 19:30
you forgot to mention their constant pathetic mention of the words gonzipn, 500 euros, clique, and anything they think would convince an imbecil vote for them based only on these words.
Jason Zammit
Nov 29th 2012, 18:45
Joseph Muscat had said that a future Labour government would be retaining all positive measures of the Budget.
This means only that PL does not have any plans for our country.....if PL have plans so be it and let them out BUT what can you expect from an empty vessel.......a big NOTHING
m. borg (slm)
Nov 29th 2012, 19:31
So you expected PL to rubbish the budget to give a slender thread to hang on, only PL has given gonzipn a rope to hang itself with.
Jason Zammit
Nov 30th 2012, 07:33
@ m Borg
The only thing I expect is some fresh ideas or at least just a couple .....that's what I'm expecting , just to give you an example , you can't go and have dinner in a Restaurant that 5 mins ago you were talking against it .....can you ?
Intom il lejburisti qass hadd ma jista jifimkom
Mario Tabone
Nov 29th 2012, 18:36
Here we go again......Labour up to their old tricks again.
They stay on the fence as usual. They say they will keep what is good and any taxes but would make things better in their own way , without of course saying how !!!
They promise better utility bills instantly but now change their tune to '' they shall start to address this immediately''.
Nothing changes. Do not trust them !!!
Antoine Vella
Nov 29th 2012, 18:26
Joseph Muscat had said that a future Labour government would be retaining all positive measures of the Budget.
Well, what do you know? It turns out that price increases are also "positive measures".
m. borg (slm)
Nov 29th 2012, 19:29
Because the price increases are minimal and we all know that gonzipn in every budget it presented always had minimal price increases only to surprise us with drastic price increases during the year, increases not mentioned in the budget.
Therefore PL has no problem retaining these minimal increases, but I am sure it will surely revise them also.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 20:55
m. borg (slm), you can try but you will not manage to hide the fact that Lejber had nothing prepared!! Luckily for us the government kept strong because I can't imagine the mess we would have if we had an election earlier on this year.
LEJBER are not ready for the job ... they never where ... they never will be!!
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 18:21
So lejber would keep the same budget!!! Remind me ... WHY DO WE NEED LEJBER then!???
W. Cassar
Nov 29th 2012, 18:44
... for accountability !
I want responsibility and honourability which is non existent at present... is that too much to ask.
Emanuel. Vella.
Nov 29th 2012, 18:47
Ghax dr.joseph muscat ghadu zghir b' vizjoni moderna,sincier,onest u nadif.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Nov 29th 2012, 20:04
Vizjoni moderna? Vizjoni moderna meta il-partit tieghu iffurmat minn nies bhal JDG, AST,, KV u Yana Mintoff, fost affarijiet ohrajn?
Vizjoni moderna, my foot.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 20:51
@Emanuel. Vella.
b' vizjoni moderna??? x'vizjoni??? din il vizjoni??? Joseph copy-and-past Budget!!
Vince Piscopo
Nov 29th 2012, 21:32
Allura b'Francis Zammit Dimech jerga jinhatar ministru l PN mhux ukoll ghandu ucuh qodma li jmorru lura ghan 1987?
Victor Caruana
Nov 29th 2012, 22:31
Rudy, dawk in-nies li semmejt inti u li bihom huwa ffurmat il-PL (4 min-nies ma jaghmlux partit, jekk nigu f'dan, imma KLIKKA) telghu fil-parlament b'mod demokratiku mill-poplu. Minn xi hadd li jappoggja lil dawk li suppost huma l-paladini tad-demokrazija, nippretendi li dawn l-affarijiet bazici tafhom u allura ma taghmilx kummenti bla sinsla bhal m'ghamilt.
R. Farrugia
Nov 30th 2012, 08:09
Mr . Caruana , il klikka kif qed tghid int .. hija il Klikka .. li jekk Il Labour ikun fil gvern ipoggihom MINISTRI !
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 30th 2012, 10:08
@Victor Caruana
Those four people will be in power!!
Joseph Xuereb
Nov 29th 2012, 18:20
So first PL were to retain only benefits of Budget and now all of it. They are not prepared to manage our econmy and more will realise who is able to steer us ahead and avoid the troubles other countries are going through. Soon we will hear that they would appoint Tonio Fenech as their consultant! They will also say that they will reduce W&E bills in 3 years time!!
scott brown
Nov 29th 2012, 18:13
Can joseph muscat at least decide who is shadowing tonio fenech? or are we to have three finance ministers if PL is elected?
if the PL is going to retain this budget , why should people vote for change
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Nov 29th 2012, 18:47
If 3 would make our country more stabilized why not ? At least we would be paying for 3 and not 1 having the wage of 3
m. borg (slm)
Nov 29th 2012, 19:32
Better 3 ministers than a chump surrounded by a host of consultants that have cost the island millions of euros in consultancy, around 23 million.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Nov 29th 2012, 21:10
scott brown, tI certainly wouldn't surprised me that for work done by one very competent person, the PL would engage three in an attempt to get close to the same result.
Mr Anthony Briffa
Nov 29th 2012, 18:11
In a nut shell the three speakers and the whole of the MLP are in panic because if elected they cannot run away from the budget presented yesterday and will have to implement it whether they like it or not. They have no answer to the benefits that are included covering all the stratas of the society. The utility tariffs have confused them and they cannot promise when they will implement the cuts.
jm busuttil
Nov 29th 2012, 18:10
Labour does not need to vote in favour they can abstain.
This way they will not leave the country in limbo until the election is over say March, than there is a period until the government is set and parliament convened. Than the next government has to either confirm the same budget or else amend the budget. Until than everything is on hold. Can any one imagine the mess.
George Cutajar
Nov 29th 2012, 18:05
The mother of all u-turns!!!!!!!
J Drury
Nov 29th 2012, 18:04
"a PL government would retain both the benefits of the budget as well as the price rises"...but still vote against it. - Ara kif spiccajna ta!!
Victor Caruana
Nov 29th 2012, 22:32
Mela l-pajjiz bil-budget biss jitmexxa? Kemm hemm aktar affarijiet. Insejt li GonziPN rabat il-vot tal-budget ma vot ta' fiducja fil-gvern?? Mela ma tismax x'qed jghid your Prime Minister??
Martin Saliba
Nov 29th 2012, 17:56
I think it would be wise for the PL to vote in favour of the budget and introduce ammendments where they see fit .Otherwise most families would suffer one way or the other unless of course all benifits are given from 1st january after the budget is approved after the elections whether PL or PN are in power .
carlos ellul
Nov 29th 2012, 17:49
Why is everyone expecting the PL to vote in favor of this budget? Is there a need to that? Surely the par idejn sodi have the majority of votes to govern! I mean Gonzi is not thirsty for power isn't he?
Zeppi Zammit
Nov 29th 2012, 18:03
"Why is everyone expecting the PL to vote in favor of this budget?" - because they said they will adopt it themselves!!!.....but what can one expect from a bunch of empty vessels!
J. Debono
Nov 29th 2012, 18:08
@ Carlos Ellul
Because they are in favour!! So why vote against?
Karl Grech
Nov 29th 2012, 18:27
If they are going to stick to it why should they vote against it just because they sit across in Parliament? Especially since they are in no rush for an election being the underdogs.....
carlos ellul
Nov 29th 2012, 21:28
If the pl can stop this period of no governance then well and good. Weve had it for far too long. Think about it. Its a win win situation for the gonzipn. I wonder why the pn apologists are so afraid of next general elections. If the pn are doing so well then it will surely cruise past next general elections right?
V. Cauchi
Nov 29th 2012, 17:49
One thing the minimum wage anomaly reminds us is that inflation annually pushes up the tax band limits so that any adjustment done during budget time and politically vanuted by government is none else than a change which includes this state of fact. It is some time now since we have had some fresh, drastic ideas in income tax computation. I wonder if any party can guarantee them.
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Nov 29th 2012, 17:46
This means only one thing. PANIC.
Vince Piscopo
Nov 29th 2012, 21:37
Of course for GonziPN and the surrounding clique imma!!!
Karl Abela
Nov 29th 2012, 17:45
Another U turn by Labour. Now they are making it official that they will keep the fuel price increase.
Kliem Joseph Muscat bzar fl-ghajnejn ghal voti!!!
Leslie Darmanin
Nov 29th 2012, 17:38
It is not that one should expect much from Labour, but one is left with that sinking, empty feeling that they have no alternative programme in hand.
It's like they're saying: the PN programme is better than we can come up with. We promise to implement their budget - just please please please let us govern instead.
Mediocrity is back.
Bongu Malta Socialista.
pat muscat
Nov 29th 2012, 22:03
@Mr Leslie Darmanin
Mediocrity has been with us since Smart City ghost town; since White Rocks non starter; since the Arriva fiasco, and last, but not least since the BWSC saga which is really like a never ending(story) mediocrity!
Robert Agius
Nov 29th 2012, 17:38
Had it been the other way round, would the PN vote for it? The answer is evident. Prosit, I don't blame them anymore. You, the public are the ones to blame for this stalemate. Don't complain about it. It is what you deserve.
Saviour Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 17:27
If you ( PL ) with keep this budget and you want us to belive you, are you going to vote in Favour ot it??? If not as you are going to do how can we trust yo?? This only to Obtain VOTES but from ME NO cannot be trut the PL.
Joseph Brincat
Nov 29th 2012, 17:43
Saviour Aquilina
The Budget is a vote of confidence. Therefore the Opposition could not vote in favor of the Budget because it had no confidence in the government.
Saviour Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 18:27
So there will not going to keep it if they win, what are they saying is to gain more votes...JM is the Populist of the last 100 years.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 18:35
@Joseph Brincat
No confidence in the government but confidence in the budget planned out by the government!!? I think the answer is very simple. LEJBER HAS NO CLUE WHAT TO DO IF IN GOVERNMENT!! Keeping this budget if elected might work for a year... BUT WHO WILL DO THEM THE BUDGET THE YEAR AFTER??
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 18:37
@Saviour Aquilina
They'll keep it, they do not have an alternative!! Having an alternative would imply that lejber has people able to understand the problems of this country and come with solutions to solve those problems. However we all know that this is the same lejber of 1997 which in turn is the same lejber of the 80s ... and we all know what type of budgets we got back then!!
V. Cauchi
Nov 29th 2012, 17:26
One subtle way the EU influences our economic independence: a political party shuns from reopening budget discussions were it be elected in government even though it disagrees with the budget. The other side of the coin is that the LP so much lacks ideas that it considers the budget a godsend saving it for another year. Remember 1996 when no laws were enacted for 9 months before introducing CET.
George Cutajar
Nov 29th 2012, 17:20
Having read the above I have one simple question - once Labour intends retaining the budget as presented yesterday why will they vote against it? In my mind I think that Labour know and understand that this is a good budget and as usual they want to copy the PN in the hope that it gets them Castille.
A.Felix Busuttil
Nov 29th 2012, 17:34
because GONZI said the budget is a vote of confidence and we don't have a confidence in GONZIPN and his government. very easy.
Mr C Camilleri
Nov 29th 2012, 17:34
Labour copy PN ??? ARE YOU SERIOUS.
This shows how close minded PN supporters are. If Labour wants to stay in opposition the only thing they have to do is copy PN !!!!
Labour WILL NOT uncover its cards before time because those with an open mind know that as soon as Labour will come out with new ideas the PN will try to make them look ridiculous, or liers or else copy them.
John Zammit
Nov 29th 2012, 17:40
Mr.Cutajar you are not a backward boy and Knows what the constitution says That any Money bill is a vote of confidence in itself, So the opposition is bound to vote against.Further to this the Gonzi PN have tied the budget to a vote of confidence.
Joseph Borg
Nov 29th 2012, 17:53
Semplici George . Wahda ghax minnu nnifsu l-budget hu vot ta fiducja xi haga li hi ovvja il labour ma ghandux. It tieni ghax hija tradizzjoni politika li l-oppozizjoni qatt ma tivvota favur il budget tajjeb kemm hu tajjeb u hekk jibqa jigri ghal dejjem ta dejjem ta dejjem.
George Cutajar
Nov 29th 2012, 17:58
@ A Felix Busuttil, C. Camilleri - the facts are there for all to see. The 2012 PN Budget is a statement by the PN of how it intends to lead the Island next year. Labour either loved it so much that they fully embraced it or else they are so devoid of ideas that they feel more secure copying the PN which, at the end of the day, have always been on the right side of history.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 18:29
@A.Felix Busuttil
You have no confidence in Gonzi; but you are keeping his BUDGET!!! That does not even make sense!!
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 29th 2012, 18:40
@Mr C Camilleri
How old are you??? Labour WILL NOT uncover its cards??? Here we are not talking a school exam or a sports competition!! HERE We ARE TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY!! THE GOOD for EVERYONE!!
Edward Farrugia
Nov 29th 2012, 17:19
Observations unveiling from the above comments: Labour utterly confused as to whom would be their financial wizard in a would be Labour government - CV,CM or ES,. all have spoken and simultaneously divered in their criticism; LP confused about the formulation of a manifesto as evident by them committing to built on PN's Budget. LP is evidently marching on blindly without direction.GOD help us.
Giov DeMartino
Nov 29th 2012, 16:59
Benefits? What benefits?
Joe M Borg
Nov 29th 2012, 17:09
The benefits that even PL admitted are right in this budget! They claim to retain these benefits, which means that it was a good budget, which means that we have a capable government, which means we don't need a change! Simple!
Doreen Attard
Nov 29th 2012, 17:11
You tell us Mr DeMartino, it's your own government after all. What benefits ?
Mr Edward Caruana Galizia
Nov 29th 2012, 17:19
In case you haven't understood their response yet, the PL like the budget and know that if they vote against it they will make the coming election about that specific budget and to hell with anything else they claim to have in store.
But sadly they have now found their backs against the wall. They have basically admitted that we don't need the PL.
Giov DeMartino
Nov 29th 2012, 18:19
NO, Ms Attard. Your PL said that it would retain all benefits. What benefits?
m. borg (slm)
Nov 29th 2012, 19:34
Mr ECG with your kind of reasoning why should we have elections or have an opposition at all, let's crown Gonzi as a monarch with his cabinet as feudal lords and nobles, they deserve it after all.
Peppi Borg
Nov 29th 2012, 16:55
This country needs stability and the sooner the better. By keeping this budget's measures, families and businesses can plan ahead for the coming months. Well done PL.
Joe M Borg
Nov 29th 2012, 17:08
This budget was compiled by PN, NOT PL. You should have said 'Well done PN', and removed your blinkers! Pl said that they are going to 'retain the benefits and the price rises...' So nothing will change if Pl are elected! So why change? It seems that PL are unable to make their own budget, if elected! Joseph's inexpierience? Maybe!
Oliver Grech
Nov 29th 2012, 17:20
Are you aware that if the budget is not approved we will not get any benefits before around April 2013? If the PL really had the national interest at heart they would approve the budget...especially given that they don't want to change one single comma from the budget...which also implies a thumbs up to the PN government.
Paul Gauci
Nov 29th 2012, 17:35
Oliver the budget was not approved yet however we are already paying for the price rises in fuel, cigarettes, cement...etc. If we will not get the benefits before April it will be only thanks to GonziPN's desperate attempts to win the next election.
joe farrugia
Nov 29th 2012, 17:46
Jekk il bugdet ma jaghdix u jsirr ligi ma jistax jigi implimentat ghalhekk il PL jkun jista jaghmel budget hu allura jekk dawn mhux ser japrovawh jfisser li ghandhom xi haga ohra f'rashom li l-poplu mhux ser jiehu gost biha u tinduna mill body language taghhom li jidru li mhux komdi meta jitkelmu kieshom denbhom taht il blat kif jghid il malti u li ghanhom xi haga mohbija.JIEN MA NAVDAHOMX.
Peppi Borg
Nov 29th 2012, 18:31
Joe M borg without blinkers, gonzipn have known that he doesn't have parliamentary majority since October at least but the PM was obstinate enough not to call the bluff of anyone. Secondly don't forget, Gonzi tied the budget vote with a confidence vote in government! What do you expect that the opposition has confidence in a government who did a mess in the last legilslature?
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