Muscat replies to the Budget speech, promises to remove income tax for minimum wage earners
Questions raised on 'secret' funding agreement with Arriva and €29m Wastserv contract
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this evening replied to the Budget speech, insisting that the people wanted a change of government but reiterating that the Budget measures would be retained by a Labour government in order to ensure stability and continuity.
He promised, however, that a Labour government would remove income tax for minimum wage earners and introduce measures to help those sectors of society which the Budget had ignored.
In his speech Dr Muscat said the government had secretly agreed with Arriva to give it more money from 2014. He also demanded police action into how a €1m contract awarded by Wastserv became a €29 million contract issued without the necessary approvals.
The following is how his two-hour speech developed:
18.30 p.m.
Joseph Muscat says the people know that the government did some good things, but the government has now lost its energy and commitment. It is divided and tired and the people want a change from the arrogance they are seeing. [/event]
The people's judgement will be based on the government's five-year record.
18:31 pmSLOW ECONOMIC GROWTH
The people want economic growth, but growth this year was less than half what the government had projected. Growth was held back not by a decline in experts, but decline in domestic demand because the people had lower spending power.
18:33 pmA labour government will instil certainty and stability, conducive to economic growth. The EU itself had said it would review Malta's economy because of its high debt. Families were suffering declining purchasing power.
18:34 pmIn real terms in the past four years, wages in Malta declined by €8 while in the EU they went up €13. Inflation in Malta was growing faster than in the EU, with the utility tariffs being the main contributory factor. Food prices in Malta were going up much faster than in the EU.
18:36 pmMuscat says the government's boast of having created 20,000 jobs is a statistical invention.
18:36 pmThere has been a surge in workers whose part-time job is their only job.
18:38 pmWomen's participation in the labour force is still the lowest in the EU and unemployment in general has consistently risen in the past eight months.
18:38 pmUnemployment is not only the result of the international situation. The main cause is government decisions, particularly government-induced costs such as the tariffs
18:40 pmThe prime minister likes to announce new investment, but if he does that again in the future, what the people will think about will be 'Brazil'. The people wanted real jobs.
18:41 pmDr Muscat turns to income tax and says government decisions are based on political convenience. Despite the tax movements announced in the Budget, government tax revenue is projected to increase again ext year. Tax revenue is not growing as a result of economic growth, since revenue growth is faster than economic growth.
18:42 pmDr Muscat says the government has not kept many of its tax cut promises, particularly a widening of the tax bands. In reducing the top rate of income tax, the government has taken an anti-social measure with only top earners benefiting. And for more than half of them, the savings will be small, with a real saving of only €100.
18:45 pmIncome tax earners filing a 'single' computation will pay income tax. How can the government justify such a measure?
18:46 pmThe Opposition is not against tax savings by the well-off, but it is against imposing more taxes on those with a small income. The government, in its Budget measures, is targeting particular sectors for electoral purposes.
18:49 pmThe increase in children's allowance may cause problems for those whose income rises above certain thresholds. It is significant that spending on children's allowance next year will be €5.5m less than in 1998.
18:51 pmIf the Budget is not approved by the House, the blame will rest solely on the prime minister. He knew for months that this situation can develop, but he kept ploughing ahead. Labour appreciates that certainty is crucial for investment and will therefore retain the Budget measures including the revenue-raising measures.
18:53 pmThe Opposition, however, will vote against the Budget because this is a confidence vote and the Opposition has no confidence in the government,
18:54 pmGRANTING OF BUDGET MEASURES
There is no need for people to be concerned that if the Budget is not approved in parliament, the benefits and cost of living allowance will not be handed out. Ways can be found for the benefits and the raise to be given immediately, in the same way as the revenue-raising measures came into force immediately. But if the government does not do so, a Labour government will do so retroactively from January 1.
18:58 pmA Labour government will consider the Budget as a long term planning tool, a multi-annual exercise that will tackle issues such as pensions, which this government ignored. What is the government's view on pensions? After the election, clearly, the prime minister plans to raise the retirement age to 67 or more. Labour will not. It will not raise the retirement age but will seek to increase the number of gainfully occupied.
19:01 pmA Labour government will start planning for Malta's presidency of the EU in 2017 and allocate funds for the purpose
19:02 pmA Labour government will also achieve more with available resources, particularly the public service. Labour will work with everyone in the public service. It will target squandering, such as needless consultancy services costing €36,000 every day or €52.7m in five years.
19:04 pmA Labour government will not remove any of the Budget measures, but it will help those who were forgotten. This is social justice.
And income tax on minimum wage earners will be removed.
Government finances are being mismanaged. In 2008 the prime minister promised to reduce the deficit to €70m but it is now four times higher. This had nothing to do with the international crisis since much of the increase was made in early 2008. It was not true that the deficit rose because of measures to protect jobs, since measures to protect jobs cost far less.
19:09 pmFurthermore, the government was supposed to have achieved a surplus two years ago.
19:10 pmAccording to the latest EU figures, 88,000 Maltese, one in four, are at risk of poverty. This is a certificate of failure, a certificate of a social deficit.
19:12 pmA Labour government will keep Budget targets and cut waste. €260m more than projected were spent on various projects in the past few years, excluding the new parliament building.
19:14 pmAs a result of government incompetence, the government's debt in this legislature practically doubled. This year alone, government borrowing is €210m more than projected.
19:16 pmMuscat lists unkept government promises including more day care centres for people with mental problems, a home for the elderly in Birkirkara, more night and day shelters, completion of the Pharmacy of Your Choice Scheme, better harbour facilities, more workers in the employability programme, more in the training aid programme and better funding for the Sapport agency.
19:18 pmENERGY SECTOR FAILURE
The government's biggest failure was in the energy sector, with Malta still without an energy policy, without energy security and with high costs. There were also questions on the interconnector project. Does the contract provide for penalties to be paid by Malta to the contractor if the granting of the permit is delayed by Italy? How much will electricity bought abroad cost?
19:21 pmFurthermore, plans for alternative energy were a spectacular failure, with no progress on wind energy. The government knows that its wind farm plans have been shot down. There is need for a rebalancing towards solar energy.
19:22 pmThere are questions on energy from PVs. Will the higher feed-in tariff for the Gozitans be retained?
19:23 pmMalta should insist that it is linked to gas pipelines between Africa and Europe crossing close to Malta
19:24 pmEnergy tariffs in Malta are the third highest in Europe. A Labour government will introduce new market rules based on local realities. The European Commission has concluded that an increase in energy prices will take place after the election. A labour government will restore seriousness to this sector and will not play with tariffs according to election timelines. Energy will become affordable.
19:28 pmLabour's energy policy will not be dependant on oil and will lead to lower bills. Labour will announce its concrete plans, including how and when, in due time, using alternatives which the government ignored. Taxpayers will not be burdened with new costs.
19:33 pmGovernment lacking transparency in petrol and diesel pricing, with prices in Malta not following the trends of the international market. Prices rose in Malta when they dropped abroad.
19:35 pmTaxpayers are paying for bad governance, with the prime minister lacking authority in this sector when, in one of the first decisions of the Cabinet, he gave himself and the ministers a €600 a week raise while power tariffs were raised for the people.
19:36 pmMeasures taken in the past few years to help SMEs will be retained, but they are not enough. Tax credits are not enough since businesses first have to make a profit. More needs to be done to cut red tape and improve the investment climate.
19:38 pmGOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
Furthermore, the contracts system needs to give a chance to everyone and not to a few. Competition has to be truly free and fair.
19:40 pmOne cannot continue to have legalised usury on overdue VAT payments to the government. Everyone has to pay due tax, but sending people to prison does not solve anything.
19:41 pmForeign investment is declining, with the government saying nothing about projects which have been withdrawn or are in doubt, but which are still shown in projections, including SR Technics, a project on alternative energy and another in aviation.
19:43 pmThe prime minister, like George Bush after the Iraq war, declared 'mission accomplished' when that was far from the case, in SmartCity, for example, as well as Arriva, the White Rocks Project and the project from Brazil.
19:44 pmTurning to tourism, Muscat says the government is not addressing the profitability problems of hoteliers. The government is not mentioning the major challenges in cruise line business next year, particularly the withdrawal of a major cruise line. The government is also not saying what its intentions are on Air Malta. The chairman had spoken of privatisation and the government said nothing.
19:47 pmGovernment investment in Gozo is insufficient for the sister island to have a comparable rate of growth as Malta. Just 3% of government capital investment is in Gozo. Labour's priority will be job creation for the Gozitans in Gozo
19:49 pmTurning to education, Dr Muscat says steps forward have been made but continuity is needed. The international Education and Training Monitoring Report 2012 showed that while spending on education as a percentage of GDP in Malta was higher than the European average, spending on the primary and tertiary sector was lower. Achievements in the tertiary sector were lower than the EU average. Performance in 2011 was worse than in 2004. Participation in early childhood education had declined. But Malta was first in the use of foreign languages. Malta was lagging in reading, science and maths. Malta was doing relatively well in job opportunities for graduands. This was a realistic picture which showed the need for the government to work hand-in-hand with teachers without imposing a myriad of confusing initiatives.
19:57 pmA serious discussion is needed on how more young people can continue to study. Digs on stipends do not make sense since it was only the government with reduced stipends. Labour is promising education, training and jobs for young people.
19:58 pmSECRET ARRIVA FUNDING AGREEMENT
The bus service reform was a 'buzullotta' for which Austin Gatt was to blame. The introduction of the Arriva service did not translate into savings on subsidies. In 2011, €4.5m were paid in subsidies instead of €4.1m and this year the subsidy would be €10.7m, €3m more than planned, because of Transport Malta's mistakes in route planning.A further €10.9m will be paid next year.
According to the Auditor, in 10 years Arriva will receive €17.9m more than originally agreed, thanks to TM's route changes. However the Budget figures only show a figure of €8.2m, with the extra €2.7m per year - €5.4m - kept hidden. Agreement has been reached secretly for Arriva to see these funds paid in 2014. The government needs to explain this.
20:02 pmThe Opposition leader raises questions on Mepa. He says its credibility is low and the Authority has run up a debt of €17 million despite raising tariffs and imposing penalties left, right and centre. What will be done about it?
20:04 pmWASTSERV
On Wastserv, he asks how the company awarded a €1 million contract for six months which ended up becoming €29m without the necessary approvals. The government is acting like nothing had happened. The minister should resign over this, and the police should investigate.
20:07 pmOn health, Dr Muscat hits out over hospital overcrowding caused by lack of planning, and repeated change of plans for the cancer hospital. He also asks what has become of the planned St Philip's Hospital contract. Where has the urgency gone? He asks how only €75,000 have been allocated for IVF treatment. Funding for primary health care reform has also disappeared.
20:10 pmConcluding, Dr Muscat says the people will base their choice on which party can deliver. This government, he says, has a record of mediocrity. It cannot be trusted because it raised power tariffs to the highest in Europe, the mistaken decisions on the BWSC power station, the inefficiency in ARMS, the way it deceived dockyard workers on job security, the bungled plans for the privatisation of car pars, the delays in the Cirkewwa project, waiting lists and overcrowding at Mater Dei, out-of-stock medicine, political involvement even in cancer treatment, its mismanagement of Air Malta, its lack of care for persons with disability when their parents passed away, and the way how bus drivers and GO employees were deceived.
20:15 pmIt also cannot be trusted because it dismantled Sea Malta, it bungled the bus service reform, because of the way it ignored parliament's decision on Richard Cachia Caruana, because it allowed the wardens system to become a racket, because it choked business in Valletta through lack of parking, because of drugs in the prison, its failure to implement the parole law, because unconstitutional laws were not amended, because of its failure to reform sectors involving women, because of the funds raised on projects such as the Corporate Village, the failure of the reform at Mepa, the lack of accountability at Wasteserv and its failure to create jobs at Smart City.
20:18 pmThe same applied for the White Rocks project, the Sports Village in Marsa and the Crafts Village at Ta' Qali.
20:20 pmDr Muscat says the government also cannot be trusted because of its wrong priorities, including the priority it gave to a new parliament building despite the country's financial problems. As a result, taxpayers will pay €3.7m annually in rental costs.
The prime minister cannot be trusted because of the way he voted against divorce in parliament despite the people's approval in a referendum.
The government also cannot be trusted for the way it deceived hunters.
Dr Muscat says change cannot be only in faces, with the same people continuing to call the shots in the background. The country needs a change of direction, of ideas and systems. People may disagree, but they will still be able to work with the government. The ultimate aim will be economic growth and better living standards through better jobs and higher education standards.
Labour, Dr Muscat says, does not want an 'electoral battle' but a future which unites.
Concluding, Dr Muscat says the election should not divide families and says Labour will be prudent. Labourites and Nationalists should unite for stability and certainty .
20:30 pm[/livetext]
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412 Comments
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Hossam Helwani
Dec 9th 2012, 10:38
Poor old eddie privitera his poor young leader has shown us no fireworks at all, on the contrary he will sure produce them as he walks up those steps and bring the country down to beg again as we did in the 70's and 80's. All we heard from mintoff, karmenu, sant and joseph muscat is beg beg and beg.
What a ghost of a future.
Lino Camilleri
Dec 6th 2012, 20:12
If JM wants that PN supporters should join his so called movement he should make the first move by getting rid of all the dinosaurs of Mintoff's times that still surround him, so that he can really boasts that he leads a new Labour Party movement, otherwise he cannot expect us to forget the atrocities of the 70s and the 80s. One of these is one of his deputy leaders. Otherwise Labour won't work.
Mark. Galea
Dec 6th 2012, 10:50
Dalwaqt nergghu naqghu fil-hofra. L-ewwel inwieghdu kollox lil kulhadd, imbaghad insibu l-hofra.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Dec 6th 2012, 13:58
Sur Galea, nahseb ma ghandekx widnejn biex tisma fejn trid. Joseph Muscat bid-difjarar qed jghidlek li dak li se jwijed se jwettqu w qed janticipa dak li qed tghid inti li se jsib hofra!
Mr Alan Zahra
Dec 6th 2012, 10:32
Yesterday's budget speech reminds me of Winston Churchill thoughts about socialism:
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.
T Gauci
Dec 6th 2012, 10:44
The increase in children allowances, stipends and social benefits are all socialist fruit
Anthony Scicluna
Dec 7th 2012, 12:06
T Gauci: no they aren't. It's called social responsibility of modern governance and has nothing to do with 'socialism'. In fact the Nationalists doubled children's allowance over the figures introduced by the MLP in the 80s. Edward Scicluna implies that a Labour government will take money away from education and benefits to subsidize utility bills. How 'socialist' of him!
jason cassar
Dec 6th 2012, 10:21
after too much artificial acts , Joseph Muscat delivered a truly worthy speech ,
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Dec 6th 2012, 10:08
Two hours of useless blabbing!
Where is the BEEF?
JC.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Dec 6th 2012, 09:56
Great speech worthy of the next leader of this country. JM hit hard at the PN without the usual rhetoric or sophistry, but with hard facts and solid argument. JM must surely have impressed many floaters to walk the last mile from Pieta to the Mile end. .
Stephen Gambin
Dec 6th 2012, 09:50
Great speech form a great leader to be !! Thanks Dr Muscat!!
I Mercieca
Dec 6th 2012, 09:31
X'ipokrezija hux! Fil-Press conference Muscat fi sfond BLUE, u l-Bandiera tal-EU. Dan l-istess bniedem li kien jipproduci l-Programm Made in Brussels?
Wahda naf jien... li kieku hadna l-pariri ta Muscat biex nimxu fuq il-passi tal-Grecja, Spanja, Portugall u l-ahhar parir tieghu Cipru kieku ilna gol-hajt. Ma tistax tafdah.
La jrid izomm il-mizurital-Bagit tal-PN, allura ghala nibdlu l-Gvern?
joseph azzopardi
Dec 6th 2012, 09:15
Fid-diskors tieghu Joseph beda jwighed kollox lil kulhadd bhalma dejjem jaghmlu dawn tal-Labour, ma qal xejn gdid anzi sa jimxi fuq il budget tal -PN, jekk vera!!!!! Il-kontijiet ta'dawl vera li jista jrahhashom ghax jaghmel bhalma kienu jaghmlu fi zmien 80's jumejn bid-dawl u erba fid-dlam, ovja li jigi orhos id-dawl!!! Biex Joseph irid ikun kredibli l'ewwel ibiddel il-membri qodma tieghu.
D Farrugia
Dec 6th 2012, 09:14
Jnehhi l-income ta' dawk li jaqilghu minimum wage?! Fis-socjeta kulhadd ghandu jaghti kontribut, kemm jekk hu haddiem bil-minimum wage u kemm jekk hu mghallem li jaghmel eluf fi profitti! Hekk irid jinkoragixxi z-zghazagh Maktin jkomplu bl-istudji taghhom Dr Muscat, billi letteralment jghidilhom "Jekk tohorgu mill-iskola u ssibu job ma thallsux taxxa u jekk tmorru l-Universita u tistudjaw, iva".
Ronnie Callus
Dec 6th 2012, 09:12
Dr.Gonzi biex ikun kredibbli maghna ghandu jichad dawk in-nuqqasijiet kollha li semmielu Joseph bil-hela ta'flus il-poplu.Dan irid jghamlu bil-provi u mhux bil-paroli biss.Kieku Joseph jaqta dak it-tberbieq ta'miljuni ta'flus fil-kurruzzjoni jkun diga aghmel hafna aktar minn Dr.Gonzi.Inutli toqghod tghid x'se taghmel Dr.Gonzi meta imbaghad taghmel mod iehor u iktar w'iktar minn wara dar il-poplu.
C Falzon
Dec 6th 2012, 09:06
Prosit lil Joseph Mucat tad diskors tal bierah.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Dec 6th 2012, 09:05
Waste of time!
Mr Alan Zahra
Dec 6th 2012, 08:53
No wonder PL endorsed the budget wholeheartedly, it's pretty obvious they don't have any ideas of their own, besides hyped roadmaps and imaginary movements. Get real Joseph
David Smith
Dec 6th 2012, 08:48
Why does Joseph Muscat remind me so much of the Sirens, those dangerous creatures of Greek mythology, who lured sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. The tragedy will be that Muscat's empty promises to all and sundry will risk shipwrecking this fair isle, to continue the metaphor. Voters, be prepared!
George Camilleri
Dec 6th 2012, 12:49
And Gonzi might remind us of the Medusa... one look at the situation and you'll turn into stone with fear
George Cutajar
Dec 6th 2012, 08:37
A budget speech devoid of policies, ideas, direction and proposals. A Labour government would simply encourage lethargy and send us back to the early eighties. This is not the change we want or need.
Franco Attard Trevisan
Dec 6th 2012, 09:08
Judging from JM's speech I must agree with you
Eddy Privitera
Dec 6th 2012, 15:07
George Cutajar et AL : Dr. Mujscat's speech must have made you speechless yesterday. Have you kept count of all the scandals, squandering of hundreds of millions of euros in project over-runs, and the endless list of broken promises mentioned by Dr. Muscat ? DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR ANOTHER 5 YEARS O THE SAME FARE ?
C Briffa
Dec 6th 2012, 08:27
Diskors li juri fejn ser jiehu lill-Malta la jkun Prim Ministru>>>>>>>>> Iva gol-hajt
Vince Piscopo
Dec 6th 2012, 08:20
Prosit Dr Muscat. Yet again you made us feel proud to be part of this ever-increasing movement. Great speech from a great leader. May God bless you.
j brincat
Dec 6th 2012, 08:20
@Karl Consiglio
"Promises"
Like Gonzi, who also delivers"
You mean like GonziPN who in 2008 came out with 101 promises he never meant to fulfil but were made to remain glued to the seat of power.
And remember that in spite of this he won by a whisker and even lost the absolute majority but then ruled arrogantly even though he promised differently (stil gdid ta' politka).
(jb)
j brincat
Dec 6th 2012, 08:10
Dr Muscat's is a beacon of light who will guide us eventually out of the long dark tunnel we have been engulfed in under GonziPN.
Obviously those of the inner circle cannot say the same.
(jb)
R. Azzopardi
Dec 6th 2012, 09:05
Do you know what his speech reminded me of? The fairy tales my parents used to read to me before I went to bed until I was maybe 4 years old. I used to wake up the next morning with a smile on my face. A smile that would be wiped off the minute I walked into class and realised that I had to face another day.
pat muscat
Dec 6th 2012, 07:57
Another moderate speech worthy of a leader li jixraq-aktar minn qatt qabel- lil dan il-pajjiz! Proset Joseph: you open doors, you do not close them.
Mario Farrugia
Dec 6th 2012, 08:34
Doors that lead to nowhere perhaps?
H. Psaila
Dec 6th 2012, 10:21
JM is promising heaven on earth at all costs in order to be the next Prim Minister, he is full of illusions and promises that for sure he cannot keep. Yes JM opened doors that lead to nowhere.
Carmelo Sammut
Dec 6th 2012, 07:19
Prosit Joesph iktar min qatt qabel ninsab konvint li L PL se ikun l ghazla tieghi fl elezzjoni li immis
Alex Falzon
Dec 6th 2012, 07:07
To all PN SUPPORTERS... pull up your socks once more... lets help the PN be the strong party of change... lets win the next election and give a lesson to the PL.!!
mario grech
Dec 6th 2012, 06:44
Well done Dr Muscat, count my vote.
Ms Maria Vella
Dec 6th 2012, 06:43
And why should minimum wage earners not pay income tax??????? They should contribute proportionally like anyone else x affarijiet dawn baqax ukoll! As always we encourage people to be come leeches instead of encouraging them to study more become more educated and increase their prospects of a better salary
Mario Farrugia
Dec 6th 2012, 08:42
Agree, socialists cannot be progressive, the country will fall backwards in time, it is only an election gimmick by muscat, as they will be paying less than 20c per day in tax.
Richard Caruana
Dec 6th 2012, 06:37
Sorry Dr Muscat, the time for rhetoric is over.
Your latest billboard says that PL will deliver, and yet you haven't even delivered your plans for Malta's future yet. Nothing but empty promises. One was hoping that at least during a two-hour speech (or should one say reading of a pre written speech) some sort of solid proposal would come out.
And you're expecting a blank cheque? No way.
Vince Piscopo
Dec 6th 2012, 08:35
Does your comment above apply to what Dr Simon Busuttil told us when asked about PN manifesto in an interview on TVAM? Is this interest in the Labour manifesto another tactic from GonziPN as a means of conducing wedge politics?
C Falzon
Dec 6th 2012, 09:02
Richard can you please tell us some solid proposals that the PN is promising cause Simon Busuttil does not want to????
Anthony Paul Naudi
Dec 6th 2012, 06:25
Darba anke il-cash registers ghedtu li kont ser tnehhu plus il-mijiet ta'taxxi li ntroducejtu.
A.P.Naudi
Karl Consiglio
Dec 6th 2012, 01:26
"Promises"
Like Gonzi, who also delivers.
Ronnie Callus
Dec 6th 2012, 09:20
It depends what he delivered. He delivered so much that the poverty line is on the increase when this long time ago was diminished.He delivered so much that the Party is divided.He has not repaired the slow puncture mentioned to him by one of his colleagues with the consequence that the tyre is going to burst.
M Grima
Dec 6th 2012, 01:22
Dr. Muscat is simply a breath of fresh air in Maltese politics. His well articulated and visionary reply to the budget speech goes on to prove what a seasoned politician he has become at such a young age. Prosit.
Mario Farrugia
Dec 6th 2012, 08:44
Still paroli biss Mr Grima!
K CASSAR
Dec 6th 2012, 00:23
For all those that have thrashed JM's speech, bear in mind that he has plenty to lose if he doesn't keep his word. The electorate is sick of 25 years of and deceit and will take no more. I'm sure he has done his homework good and well and has uncovered many misdoings of this government. Things that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. I honestly think that PL is the better choice this time round!
Mario Farrugia
Dec 6th 2012, 08:48
Uncovering misdoings makes you a good opposition party, not necessarily capable of governing. Unions are good when protecting workers, but are not necessarily good at running public or private companies.
Joseph Grech Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 23:54
To those who say that JM has said nothing concrete, what exactly do you mean? Actions speak louder than words. If GonziPN had said something concrete, it surely has not acted on what it said!! As JM said, GonziPN promises but does not deliver. Give a chance for JM to see whether he delivers what he preaches! It could be our last chance to keep our identity and live in honesty and peace.
Joanne Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 23:47
Meta partit inehhi il hazin li jkun sar, filwaqt li jammetti li jkun sar tajjeb u ser ikompli jibni fuqu hija turija ta kemm il pjan tieghu huwa imfassal fuq pjan ta Futur Li Jghaqqadna.
B.C. Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 23:31
To all PN apologists....PN had almost 5 years to come up with proposals and implement. And you want Muscat to state his proposals? Doesn't it sound like copying?
C. Bartoli
Dec 6th 2012, 09:01
@ B.C. Borg. MLP had 25 years to come up with concrete plans so the majority of maltese people vote to get them in power, yet JM will be using the PN plan for the next 5 years if he gets in power.
Joanne Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 23:27
BIl PL fil Gvern m’hemmx loghob bil kontijiet u taxxi anzi jkun qed jahdem mill ewwel gurnata biex irahhas il kontijiet b’mod sostenibbli. Iwieghed ghax jaf li jista jwettaq.
Charles Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 23:27
U jien li naqla aktar mill paga minima nhallas aktar taxxi sabiex naghmel tajjeb ghal min jaqla il paga minima!!!!! U MHUX HEKK JOSEPH!!! Nivvota Labour... mela qed niggenenn?!
Joseph Vassallo
Dec 6th 2012, 09:03
Il-Gvern immexxi minn Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami nehha l-hlas tat-taxxa fuq il-paga minima! Taht il-partit socjalista, min kien jaqla l-paga minima, kien ihallas it-taxxa.
Il-paga minima hija taxxabbli issa ghax gholiet hafna miz-zmien meta EFA kien nehha t-taxxa fuqha!
M. Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 23:27
Well said, Dr Muscat, get us out of this miserable age.
Joseph Vassallo
Dec 5th 2012, 23:27
PL should at least abstain in Budget vote so that people will benefit from Budget as from 1st January 2013 and not from May backdated to January 1st!
PM should not link Vote of Confidence to Budget vote, because then the Opposition will have no option but to vote for Budget
Vote of Confidence should then be debated after Budget is passed.
Joanne Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 23:25
Il partit laburista tkun taf fejn qieghed mieghu. No hidden costs!
C Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 23:21
For the minister asking JM for the source of income to support his claims; it is good to note that labour main credit will be in savings:
a. saving 66% of the consultants; fees and receive better and more professional reports for one third of the money.
b. better procurement in medicine; fuels etc
I have to point out that I have been just sacked from employment......
P Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 23:13
The government has an excellent vision for the country. I particularly like those measures that incentivise and help people with low income to acquire new skills and hence be able to ameliorate their situation. Moreover, doors are wide open, the opportunities are there! On the other hand, reducing utility bills no matter what is a very bad idea; it incentivises waste rather than growth.
Liza Zarb
Dec 5th 2012, 23:12
Vizzjoni, direzzjoni , ghaqal fi tmexxija u stabilita dan kien il-messagg ta Dr Joseph Muscat fi diskors brillanti li ghamel il-lejla.
Mary Ann Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 23:12
Fil-budget speech ta' Joseph ta' sentejn ilu Joseph semma lil Cipru 64 darba. Did darba ma semma xejn dwar Cipru. Int taf ghaliex?
L. Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 23:01
Nemmen li Muscat se jirnexxilu jtejjeb lil Malta bl-istess mod li rrnexxilu ibiddel lil PL!
Mary Ann Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 22:55
Labour delivers! It delivers promises, and yet more promises. Lejber cant deliver more than promises and it has the cheek to say it delivers on billboards set up on main roads built and delivered by PN and subsidised by the EU that Joseph was so much against, like the one near the airport. And he even has the cheek to put his face on those billboards. Yes, Lejber delivers...pizza and promise.
Joseph Vassallo
Dec 6th 2012, 09:10
Labour delivers PN's Budget!
Maria Scriha
Dec 5th 2012, 22:51
Onchology hospital in its initial stages and a roofless theatre reaching its final stages. Tens of millions of euro spent on vanity projects from the world of Austin Gatt instead of proper investment in our health.
We spent millions on a new hospital which was supposed to cater for all our needs and we are still trying to make good for the irresponsibilities of the Nationalist government.
Micheal Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 22:47
Jiena Self Employed u l-Burokrazija tkissirni. L-wedgha ta JM minghajr ma jonfoq flus se tghinni hafna lillhi
Pierre Fenech
Dec 5th 2012, 22:41
Such mismanagement of public funds and no one shoulder responsibility. Not only but they have the guts to appear in front of the public as if nothing happened. Gonzi PN time to go.....
Matthew Aguis
Dec 5th 2012, 22:39
Ghandna nuqqas ta tmexxija li ghaliha qed inhallsu ahna
Frans Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 22:28
From my part I was impressed with honesty from JM's side. It's a first for me to hear someone from a party saying that he will be adopting policies from another party
Steve M. Engerer
Dec 5th 2012, 22:15
I thought I was going to get some answers after a 2 hour speech!
I ended up having more questions than before.
Joe Pavia
Dec 5th 2012, 22:08
Prosit Joe Muscat. Salvatur Tal minimum wage earners. Well done for all the gibberish that came out of your mouth
Ivan Scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 22:07
Very nice in theory! But in practice, even reducing costs by cutting on un-needed projects and consultations, and making major services more efficient cannot pay for all Labour says it wants to do. Politics apart, I see Labour auto-driving itself into a corner if it wins the next elections.
Charles Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 21:51
I keep tell Dr. Muscat. (Never catch a falling knife) but he never listen.
Anna Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 21:48
Just heard 2 hrs of critisim from JM towards the government..... But as usual no solutions, no propositions.... Alot of buzz words and empty words...all Muscat is seeking after is to become a priminster but doesn't really care about nothing else....just self pride.....
Mario Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 21:47
Din mhux xi loghba fuq il-playstation Joseph , din hi ir-realta . Il-poplu se jigudika fuq il-fatti li anka int qbilt li sar it-tajjeb , Ara minn naha tal-pl , m'ghandniex fuq xiex hlief weghdiet weghdiet u krib . Nafu biss li l ahhar darba li kont fil-gvern gibtu dizastru totali u ghamiltu kollox barra dak li weghdtu.
George Cutajar
Dec 5th 2012, 21:36
JM is waiting for his new GPS before he plots his policies based on a roadmap to nowhere. Unbelievable over two hours and not one single policy proposal.
Is this the change we want or need?
P. Ciantar
Dec 5th 2012, 21:35
Nothing new with blue ties and jackets and same budget and to keep everything as it is than I would keep the original ie PN
Malcolm Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 21:33
I hope that we get a change in government so we minimum wage earners will not be heavily taxed!
G curmi
Dec 5th 2012, 21:30
X'ippretenda Dr Gonzi li jhabbar illejla l-manifest elettorali??
U ghal min kiteb hawn taht u qed jipprova jbezza', nghidilkom min jistenna jitenna.
Kif Gonzi jhabbar, Joseph lest ukoll biex ihabbar!
anthony sultana
Dec 5th 2012, 21:28
Joseph M is very impressive person, if he put our tax money where his mouth is, definitly we all benefit and we can't complain.So calm dawn and don't panic because it looks like JM is going to manage our islands ,the best in the EU.,if not the world.
Lara Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 21:24
PROSIT Dr. Muscat twegiba serja u b'vizjoni ghal budget li jara sa mniehru mahsub biex jisraq il-voti
John Attard
Dec 6th 2012, 06:25
Prosit......so since it is a vote catching budget PL will keep it too.......some people see to their noses. As JM said negotiations with the EU take time. Once finalized going back to open a can of worms I'd not the right approach. Future beckons that past is history.JM looks to the future
Michael Borda
Dec 5th 2012, 21:23
well described PM...if we want stability we cannot choose Muscat.
David Magro
Dec 6th 2012, 06:18
So you are happy with what is goining on under GonziPN? All that Joseph Muscat mentioned does not make sense for you Mr.Borda ? You are happy with the wastage that is going on with your and my taxes? Do you approve the corruption and arrogance that`s been going on under GonziPN? Bless you Mr.Borda, it seems that live for you is easy under GonziPN, but for me and most of the Maltese its hard!
Sandro Smith
Dec 5th 2012, 21:18
Id-dinja tal-holm hija d-dinja li jghix fiha Muscat u l-PL...ir-realta ha tkun hafna iktar differenti JM.
anthony borg
Dec 6th 2012, 07:32
PN promises but PL DELIVER SANDRO .... Bil parolli tal PM ma naslu IMKIEN..
Andrew Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 21:17
Unbelievable! Muscat has just spoken for 2 hours and he still hasn't declared how he will reduce our utility bills. I think he just doesn't know and doesn't care as along as HE becomes Pm
j farrugia
Dec 6th 2012, 06:23
when your gonzipn start saying all his proposals then jm will say how and when.in fact he said this statement right?as if the budget was only on these utility bills
Josephine Bugeja
Dec 5th 2012, 21:16
PM ghandu ragun...bla twegiba u bla proposti minghand Muscat ha nibqghu.
Tonio Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 21:15
il- weghdiet kollha huma bziezaq tas-sappun...a perfect description of JM's speech
Doreen Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 21:15
Dr Muscat's speech proves that the pl will deliver and very early, as early as 2013 when it wouldn't have been in government for a whole year. Maybe this is sounding like a certain electoral win, not so, all this is conditional to a win at the polls of course. Monday 10th Dec is the first step towards that end.
Joseph Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 21:14
PM is right...JM said nothing concrete.
Charles Cremona
Dec 5th 2012, 21:13
This man must be a genious, he is cutting energy prices, no tax for lower earners and implimenting the budget in full. He should be put in charge of the Eurozone with his box of tricks never mind Malta. He should now tell us where all this money is coming from.
Anton Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 21:13
Kulhadd ha jmur il quddiem ma Muscat...ara fejn qatt xi politiku fid-dinja irnexxielu jissodisfa lil kulhadd. Ta Muscat mhux politika imma fantaziji u holm.
Benjamin Calleja
Dec 5th 2012, 21:09
Nuqqas ta konsistenza...budget tajjeb jew budget hazin...anki il gurnalisti tal-one indunaw.
Nadine Galea
Dec 5th 2012, 21:08
Labour won't work
Il-passat huwa garanzija tal-futur!
Amante Reale
Dec 6th 2012, 00:10
> Il-passat huwa garanzija tal-futur!
Since when?
Christine Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 21:07
Id-divizjoni l-labour gabha fl-80s mhux dan il-gvern li gabna wiehed mill-aqwa pajjizi fl-ewrosistema.
Henry Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 21:07
What happened to Dr Muscat's plea to create a new middle class?
I know, it appeared to Labour that this is not attracting attention as part of his "promising everything to everyone" strategy and so he dropped it.
Doreen Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 21:07
Dr Joseph Muscat assured the minimum wage earners that they will not pay income tax. Not like gonzipn he imposed it in this budget. You see ladies and gentlemen Dr Muscat is doing what he promised that is he will biuld on what's good and remove what's wrong. Simple isn't it ? I don't see why so many bloggers here can't seem to understand this.
Steve M. Engerer
Dec 5th 2012, 22:26
If you think that running the economy of a country is simple, then we truly are on a different page..
joseph borg st john
Dec 6th 2012, 02:26
Doreen nahseb li int thob il fairy tales ukoll ux .
Anthony Scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 21:07
And all this time I thought that economic growth comes from investment and innovation. Muscatonomics is fascinating
Lara Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 21:06
Id-diskors ta’ Joseph Muscat certezza, li l-isbah zminijiet ghal pajjizna ghadhom gejjin.
Joseph Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 21:06
Irridu l-proposti Muscat....l-elezzjoni mhux hames snin ohra imma ftit xhur ohra.
O Galea
Dec 5th 2012, 21:06
JM promised a lot today..
labour will not only disappoint people but also he will decide to
opt out of the eu. This will create unease and more
social problems in our country. We must ensure that we dont
eliminate the good points that we done so far. We need to be
reassured about our future...clearly!
Justin Tabone
Dec 6th 2012, 04:32
Dream on Mr Galea. Very irresponsible comment. That's what PN is all about. Experts in damaging Malta's reputation when in opposition. You have just started acting in that way.
Darren Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 21:05
Dr. JM wera responsabilita’, ghaqal u serjeta fid-diskors tieghu li hi turija ta’ politika gdida, kwerenti u stabli. Dak li ghandna bzonn u li Gonzi PN falla milli jaghtina.
W. Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 21:03
A good speech by Muscat, brought to light many other mismanagement's by this administration. I await on Gonzi's reply. Lots of money being wasted it seems, not good in these times!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 21:03
Ask the ex dockyard workers what gonzipn means! They were promised guarantee of work and today though they were employed elsewhere, the conditions and the wage are an outcry from what they used to have.
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 21:03
Bearing in mind that this budget was approved by the EU I don't see any problem with to keep it's frame work When One remembers that the frame for 2014 is to be ready by next march It will be foolishness to alter all the work now specially for investors
anthony sultana
Dec 5th 2012, 21:03
25 years in government and we are worst than square one.I am hopeless, too much restrictions, every thing we do is against the GonziPN policies.
Sergio Bugeja
Dec 5th 2012, 21:05
ahjar ghazilna il partnership...konna mmorru iktar il-quddiem...ara vera ma maqtughin mir-realta...pajjiz li ghamel hafna progress u li huwa top EU country bhalissa.
Steve M. Engerer
Dec 5th 2012, 22:36
I have to agree with you on one point Mr Sultana.
Yes, you are indeed hopeless..
Where you in Malta in 1987??
Peter Bonnici
Dec 5th 2012, 22:57
@ anthony sultana. You summed it up well in 3 words: "I am hopeless".
joseph borg st john
Dec 6th 2012, 02:36
Anthony Sultana you said you are hopeless my same thoughts you are so !!!
John Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:59
A stable speech which generated confidence for those who know how money is to be spent. Someone please tell me where the funds are coming from after all these promises! I am perplexed but if JM manages how to find the funds then he is on the right path!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:59
Gonzi didn't keep his electoral promises and which Simon Busuttil had written and designed before the last election. Now he reappointed Busuttil to write agin the electoral programme. Now that I do not call change!
Josette Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 20:58
Joseph Muscat qed tparla hafna u xorta ma ghandekx il kuragg tapprovah dan il-budget....kieku kont vera onest...kont tivvota favur.
Doreen Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:57
Happy Christmas to all says Dr Joseph Muscat, the pl campaign will continue next year no matter what gonzipn will do. A very clear message indeed. And there is also other things which Dr Muscat made very clear, for example that whoever want to plan on what's in the budget he can do so because his government will keep what this government promised in the budget.
Andrea Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 21:01
this is the bare minimum...we expect more from someone who thinks that he is going to into government in a few months time.
Roberto Fenech
Dec 5th 2012, 20:57
Dr Muscat declared that it was the present government who reduced stipends.
The shadow minister for education, Evarist Bartolo, was the one responsible to introduce loans instead of stipends.
Again, who reduced stipends, Dr Muscat???
Alex Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 21:15
It was indeed the PN govt that reduced the stipends provided to students who were taking a number of courses only a few years ago.
Roberto Fenech
Dec 5th 2012, 21:42
Alex Cassar, please check your facts and when you do so, advise Dr Muscat as well. There are 2 different types of courses: "Normal" Courses and "Prescribed" Courses. The prescribed ones are those that the country needs more graduates in.
I do not recall this government changing stipends to loans.
J. Tabone
Dec 5th 2012, 22:40
Stipends are bad. Student Loans are good. Especially when education is free. Such a high % of stipends are wasted on garbage. Working for your money builds character... investing in your own future (instead of being paid to go to school) helps young people gain perspective. The whole idea of Stipends is twisted in my opinion.
Paul Gauci
Dec 6th 2012, 02:42
Stipends were reduced in 2005 by Lawrence Gonzi from Lm60 a month to Lm36 a month. I know because I was a student at the time.
Alfred Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:57
Joseph Muscat ghidilna fuq il-bailout ta Cipru...u kif Malta ha tkun qed titlob bailout fis-snin li gejjien taht il-gvern tieghek
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:54
As a civil servant today I recieved note from gonzipn. At first it gives the impression that it is a note from Labour and the note warns that if there will be a Labour Government, I would be transfered. Do they think we civil servants are fools? Did they forget about the many transfers and humiliation inflicted on Labour supporters? Gonzipn please stop with this rubbish!
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 21:06
All one has to do is check the public calls that are being issued for the last few weeks to realise what is happening!!! And then they have the gall to intimidate with transfers.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:51
I was pleased to learn that Labour would give us all benefits with arrears. I am fed up of being taxed! Another positive thing declared by Joseph Muscat tonight is that a new government would decrease utility bills immediately.
Chris Formosa
Dec 5th 2012, 20:55
but he didn't tell us how....it looks like he doesn't know either.
Alex Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 21:05
@ Chris Formosa
GonziPN ghadhom ma qalulniex minfejn ha jgibu il-flus ghall-affarijiet li weghdu fil-budget!
Alex Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 20:51
Ma nafx xi jrid jghid iktar Dr. Muscat biex jaghmilha iktar cara li l-PL jrid jahdem ghall-ghaqda. Min ma jridx jisma sinjal li ma jaqbillux.
Thomas Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:50
Speechless after listening to what every Maltese citizen wants to hear. A new country with new ideas and united people. Once a Nationalist but now an open minded, I will vote for who I think is best at the moment. Soory Mr Gonzi but I don't beleive you anymore. Shame on you if you fool me once but shame on me if you fool me twice. I will vote Partit Laburista this time!!
Ronnie Callus
Dec 5th 2012, 20:49
Kliem meqjus ta' J. Muscat fejn elenka id-deskrepanzi kollha tul it-tmexxija ta' Gonzi PN.kJghidilna mod u jsir mod iehor.Jistma mod u jirrizulta mod iehor f'kull progett li dahal ghalih il-Gvern.Diskrepanzi kemm fil-flus kif ukoll fi zmien li jitlesta progett.Gvern li jodd il-flieles qabel iffaqqsu imbaghad isib jew li ma'faqsux,jew kien hemm minnhom mejta.Kif tista taghmel budget fuq linji hekk
Tony Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 20:47
kont nistenna proposti moderati u progressivi minghand JM...imma xejn!!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:47
What struck me in this speech by JM is that he mentioned long term planning, something which this country needs utterly. Joseph Muscat is surely one who delivers. One of the things that he should see done is that families would some day find more money to spend in their pockets.
J.C. Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:47
... bilhaqq, insejt zewg affarijiet. Dan kien diskors tal-budget jew tmaqdir lil-Prim Ministru biss u ohra - semma, minfejn se jgib il-flus biex jonora dak li qed iwieghed???
R Axisa
Dec 6th 2012, 05:53
Sa fejn naf jien Gonzi sa ftit ilu ukoll qal li ma wettaqx il-weghda tat-tnaqqis tal-income tax ghax onest. F'daqqa wahda, ghax riesqa l-elezzjoni bengel il-weghda. Tista' tghidli fejn Gonzi qal minn fejn se jgib il-flus? Ghax jien ma smajt xejn lanqas minghand Gonzi.
A. Sultana
Dec 5th 2012, 20:45
Labour really have a great track record on being prudent and uniting families. Case in point when they declared they have won a referendum with less votes...
Rita Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:49
"il-partnership rebah!"
Sandra Theuma
Dec 5th 2012, 20:44
Kont nistenna ahjar minn leader determinat u lest biex jiehu l-poter. Joseph...you leave much to be desired.
Eddy Privitera
Dec 5th 2012, 20:44
A memorable speech which proves there is a chasm between the usual "promises" - many of which remain on paper only, of Lawrence Gonzi. And the vision and determination of Dr. Joseph Muscat to change the present mediocrity of the present government, as shown by the Auditor General's report. WELL DONE DR. MUSCAT !
Mary Ann Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:58
I remember all of Joseph's budget-reply speeches. Privitera, do you remember the one of just 2 years ago when he called the PM an amateur because we were not doing as well as Cyprus? Now that was also a really memorable speech. Cyprus has asked for an EU bailout a few months ago, just in case you only watch Super 1.
Roberto Fenech
Dec 5th 2012, 20:59
If this is the best Dr Muscat can do, then Labour is in trouble.
Mr Joe Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 22:57
Vision??? Ah you mean you watched him on television. Yes Yes many braved it and watched him on telly
J.C. Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:44
Ma lhaqtx id-diskors ta' JM mil-bidu u ghalhekk ma nafx jekk semmiex liema ministru tal-finanzi futur, kitiblu d-diskors. Kultant tant qaghad attent biex jaqra dak li kitbulu li beda jlaqlaq biex jaqra.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:43
@Tony Psaila
"l-labour ha jissussidja l-hela!"
How?
Like the €600 million invested in the State of the Art which after 4 years was found to be too small!
Like investing €350 in a power station that has to date failed to work and was riddled with mysteries!
Like the millions invested in the Arriva bendy buses and all ' the no more buzullotti
Tell us how please!
(jb)
Kevin Bonnici
Dec 5th 2012, 20:43
Kliem sarkastiku u arroganti minghajr ma joffri soluzzjonijiet ghal pajjiz.
anthony sultana
Dec 5th 2012, 20:43
Prosit Joseph M you was very interesting.GonziPN need a long rest.
Olivia Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:42
Oppozizzjoni li tmaqdar biss...minghajr proposta konkreta wahda!
Mr Joe Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 20:42
Baseless worthless rhetoric detached from the slightest hint of world context and exposing the overarching and unfading truth that he is not a little better than the mediocre journalist he was . Dilletant!
Silvio Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:42
Il-budget tajjeb, il budget hazin...ma fhimtx x kienet l-idea ta Muscat fuq il-budget.
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:55
Jien ma fhimtx ghalfejn il-PM kellu jorbot vot ta' fiducja ma' dan il-budget. ma ntihx tort lill-Muscat
A. Sultana
Dec 5th 2012, 20:40
Iz-zmien itina risposta fuq kollox.
Christina Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 20:40
Kawtela, ghaqal, certezza u stabilita. Dan hu l-Partit Laburista. Dan hu li jixraq lic-cittadin Malti u Ghawdxi.
Tonio Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:40
Ideat godda?? Proposti? Pjanijiet? Fejn huma dawn JM!
Lara Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:40
L-ghazla tal-poplu hi cara. Ghazla bejn il-firda mahsuba mill-klikka ghall-gid tal-klikka, jew politika li tghaqqad, b’vizjoni moderna, serja ghall-gid tal-kotra.
Joseph Fenech
Dec 5th 2012, 20:43
il firda bejn il-moderati u l-progressivi nahseb li hija firda li ghandna nitkellmu fuqha
Estelle Desira
Dec 5th 2012, 20:40
Dejjem l-istess diska minghand il-labour!
m. borg (slm)
Dec 5th 2012, 21:08
U x'diska hi Estelle?
Herbert Tonna
Dec 5th 2012, 20:39
Muscat ma jghid xejn...u jibqa ma jghid xejn
F Gauci
Dec 5th 2012, 20:38
JM qieghed iwieghed kollox bl-addocc!
m. borg (slm)
Dec 5th 2012, 21:15
Per ezempju?
Angela Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 20:35
What a hopeless speech...more of the same
Joe Pace Asciak
Dec 5th 2012, 20:34
After the Budget speech: version A (jixtri). Today: version B (imaqdar). Conclusion: min imaqdar irid jixtri.
Darren Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 20:33
Tista’ ma taqbilx maghna imma tista’ tahdem maghna biex nahdmu ghal secjeta’ gusta fejn it-tkabbir ekonomiku jilhaq lil kulhadd. Messagg progressiv serju, ghall-progress tal-pajjiz. Din il-bilda tista’ ssir bi gvern ghaqli immexxi minn Joseph Mucat.
Matthew Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:37
moderat jew progressiv?? iddeciedi?? flimkien zgur ma jmorrux!!
Dario Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:33
The Labour Party has transformed itself into a Movement – uniting different people from different backgrounds working together for the common good of this country! Let’s get MALTA working!
Tony Psaila
Dec 5th 2012, 20:33
l-labour ha jissussidja l-hela!
u xi nghidu ghal min diga investa eluf fis-solar panels?
Andrew Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:32
I propose Joseph Muscat is given the next noble peace price...he is going to unite all Maltese after 40 years of civil war in Malta where thousands of people died. How funny this person can be!! How can you trust such a person!!
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:32
JM is the answer to our questions.
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:31
JM ended with a bang. I do not think the final statements appealed to the other side!
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 20:31
Diskors ta tama ghal Malta........ JM huwa l unika soluzzjoni ghal pajjizna!
Maria Refalo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:31
JM will bring Malta on its knees!
Joe Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:51
How? Ejja...tell us what he will be doing....Malta IS on it's knees....Wake up
David John
Dec 5th 2012, 21:05
Fliemkien Kollox Possibli. Ghax mhux gharkubtejna gabna Laurence Gonzi is lampa stampa mifruxin ma l-art.
John Lusignan
Dec 5th 2012, 21:10
@Joe Muscat. Your comment is nothing short of being pathetic. Malta on its knees!!?? Where are you living...in a cave without access to world news! Let me help you.... today's news http://www.ft.com/home/uk As for Muscat all he did was complain and didn't give one single proposal or explain any plans whatsoever. All he said is 'we will be better'...but didn't explain how of course.
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:30
A well merited answer to the Budget while not promising anything unusual He succeeded in tearing the budget the promises made over the years. Year after Year Just recycling the same promises But his end was superb when he promised that the PL is not interested in the past but in the future without any injustice done Well done Dr.Muscat
A. Sultana
Dec 5th 2012, 20:38
Why would someone be interested in a shameful past.
PL do not want to be judged on their past simply because it is not convenient for them.
Matthew Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:29
Middle class gdida ha tkun the upper middle class jew the lower middle class...jigifieri il-middle class ta issa ha nwaqqawha post?
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:29
We already know where we stand with labour. Tonight's speech speaks for itself.
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:29
A great speech tonight by JM ....
real and factual
Carmel Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:35
naghmlu roadmap...very real and factual!
P Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 20:29
I guess that at this point in time, maltese liberals have only one option left: PL!
Thomas Cutajar
Dec 5th 2012, 20:34
I believe the liberals will get on very well with the moderates...since they share the same ideas.
Julian Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:28
Does anyone have any idea what the MLP in government will actually do? Has anyone heard a single policy? Loads of hot air .... "trust me the cheque is in the post"!
Eddy Privitera
Dec 5th 2012, 20:49
julian Borg: Dan id-diskors ta' Dr. Muscat SAMMAR L-AHHAR MUSMAR fit-tebut politiku ta' Lawrencve Gonzi u GonziPN !
Julian Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 23:08
Tikkonferma li m'ghandekx idea x'ha jaghmel Muscat jekk jirbah l-elezzjoni.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:28
The principle which existed always where those who earned the minimun wage would not be taxed is not valid anymore. Gonzipn erased it like its electoral promises.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 20:27
PN = An end to a means
PL = An end in itself
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:27
@Christine Mangion
"Ghidilna fuq il-kabinett il gdid maghmul min-nies ta zmien Mintoff u fuq dak li wettqu dawn l-eks Ministri!"
Remember Françoise???
(jb)
Maria Refalo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:27
JM iwieghed kollox lil kulhadd...yes-man!
Malcolm Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:26
I wonder how GonziPn has the audacity to claim that the Maltese people are doing so well under a Nationalist Government, when there are nearly 90,000 citizen are within the grasp of poverty. And alas the Government has decided to tax those who earn a minimum wage, when the norm implies to ease the burden on those who are financially at risk!
Angela Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 20:25
Progressivi u moderati...kif qatt jistghu jaqblu flimkien dawn?
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:25
@Alfred Gatt
"a government which managed to diversify and avoid the crisis...this is what you should be saying JM!!"
A government which inflicted the highest W & E bills on the people and came out with a feeble excuse of the impending economic doom YET at the same time he took home € 500 a week BEHIND everybody's back.
That's GonziPN to you!
(jb)
Alfred Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 20:25
JM is telling us that we are going to have a bail out....that is what the change will bring!!
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:31
a change from a gvt whose pm is responsible for a third of the debt malta has
Joseph Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:24
M'ghandekx ghalfejn ghax Joseph Muscat se jaghti l-beneficcji li nghataw fil-budget, beneficcji li nghataw ghax walet l-elezzjoni. Bhal tat-taxxa , li ilha mwieghda 4 snin!
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 20:23
I can't believe hunters still believe JM will have hunting be what it used to be, have they not learnt the lesson from last time?
J Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 20:22
PN = xoghol, sahha, sigurta!
MLP = decizjonijiet hziena fuq edukazzjoni, ekonomija, demokrazija....
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 21:18
Explain please not just empty words
Chris Cocker
Dec 5th 2012, 20:22
He gave us many reasons why we should not trust GonziPN.....any reasons why we shouldn't trust Joseph Muscat??
Rachel Galea
Dec 6th 2012, 00:24
but none why we should trust him!!
Horace Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:21
Muscat bhala Kap tal-Oppozizzjoni kapaci jikkuntenta lil kulhadd bil-weghedi. Bil-fatti zgur mhux ser ikun kapaci jaghmel lil kulhadd kuntent.
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 20:19
Kif nista navda l GonziPN meta ha il Mepa f idejh u marret ghal aghar!!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:19
How can we trust this government after the failure in the public transport system, failure in education, waste of money, poverty ever increasing, the bwsc saga, smart city broken promise, .........and on and on and on....
Lara Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:19
Il-mismanagment ta’ dan il-gvern huma l-ispejjes taghna. Dr. Joseph Muscat qed jofri s-serjeta’ mehtiega.
Valerie Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:18
What a waste of time. Not a single word about how Muscat plans to do if and when in government.
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:43
Vera Valerie. Tmaqqdru biss! Isimghu x'inhu jghid imbaghad tirrejalizaw li qed jikritika u mhux imaqdar. Kif dejjem tridu kollox fuq platt!! Issa meta jigi z-zmien jghidlek kif ser jahdem.
Jeanette Buttigieg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:18
imma tmaqdir biss????
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:27
jekk tnehhi l-gharbiel partiggjan minn ma' widnejk tirrealizza li le mhux tmaqdir biss...
actually nemmen li bit-trackrecord tal-PM, joseph has been quite kind in this speech
Olivia Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:17
Muscat jibqa' ma joffri xejn, xejn u xejn. Spicca l-Labour.
Christine Mangion
Dec 5th 2012, 20:16
Ghidilna fuq il-kabinett il gdid maghmul min-nies ta zmien Mintoff u fuq dak li wettqu dawn l-eks Ministri!
Maria Refalo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:26
Agreed!
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:44
How about the PN Cabinet?
Darren Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 20:16
Diskors li jirrifletti stil gdid ta’ politika. JM ma jmaqdarx biss izda jikritika b’mod kostruttiv u jaghti sens ta’ kontinwita’ fejn sar tajjeb u kritika kostruttiva fejn hemm bzonn jigi irrangat. JM hu l-politiku u ghandi l-istil ta’politika stabbli li l-pajjiz ghandu bzonn.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:16
Dr Muscat is the much awaited light at the end of the long tunnel.
His words give us all a ray of light so that we may all breathe again after the much heartache brought about by successive PN governments but mostly by GonziPN under whose reign many have been thrown below the poverty line and most of all because he made promises just to win the 2008 election.
(jb)
Charles Massa
Dec 5th 2012, 20:15
PN qieghdin jistagbu kif il PL se jwettaq il budget u fl istess hin se jivvota kontrih. L ewwel nett hija responsabilita tal gvern li budget jghaddi. Jekk il gvern kien jaf li budget mhux se jghaddi, imissu mar ghal elezzjoni. Nesa Gonzi li il poplu ried id divorzju u hu ivvota kontrih, jaf Gonzi li poplu jird tnaqqis fil kontijiet ta dawl/ilma u Gonzi ivvota bil qalb favur zidiet tal kontijit
Belinda Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 20:15
So now we know it. Muscat will be voting against the Budget. We'll have to vote Gonzi in order to enjoy the benefits of this budget
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:46
Not necessarily. If that is the only solution you are envisaging I do not think it is going to lead you anywhere!!
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:14
Dr. Muscat said that economic growth is to be a pillar of a future Labour Government What labour is promising stability and certainty
Frans Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 20:27
Explain please how you came to this conclusion?
Chris Cocker
Dec 5th 2012, 20:13
BRASIL AND BWSC.....2 main reasons why we should vote Labour....and of course, there are much more!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:13
If according to Gonzipn the country is better off with his administration, can the government explain the number of persons living in poverty increased to 90 000?
Abigail Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 20:13
Appell 1: tikwotawx statistika mil-wikipedia u mis-super one!
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:47
Ikkwota mill-Eurostat u l-World Bank halli jghidulek li dawk m'ghandhomx ragun u lizbaljati ukoll.
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:12
Jekk hawn xi hadd isaqsi min fejn ha jgib il flus JM ghandu jaqra ir rapport ta l-awditur generali li hareg ricenti ... spejgazzjoni cara kemm il flus tonfoqom sew trid u mhux tberbaqom
Alfred Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 20:11
a government which managed to diversify and avoid the crisis...this is what you should be saying JM!!
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:49
let us pray that creative accountancy is not the order of the day!
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 20:11
Joseph Muscat huwa serhan tal-mohh lill-genituri tat-tfal b'dizabbilita.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:11
Why is Gonzipn fussing about Labour voting against the budget though it's in favour of it. What did they do in the divorce question?
Owen Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:20
labour is inconsistent and does not have the interest of the people.
P Axisa
Dec 5th 2012, 20:10
MLP = wieghdi biss...tfakkarkhom fl-1996?
Micheal Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:08
Il-gvern irid jghidilna minfejn ha jgib il-flus biex jirranga l-finanzji tal-Enemalta mhux kull sena tisvina l-flus u wish xejn m'hu xejn. Gejja xi qata ftit snin ohra??
Maria Magro
Dec 5th 2012, 20:08
Min jibni skola fis-sena??
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 20:23
Min l-infrastruttura hija l-unika haga li ghandu x'juri.
Mill-bqija fl-edukazzjoni ghandna l-oghla rata ta' early school leavers fl-ewropa, fl-edukazzjoni rajna lil dolores cristina ttellifna xi 8miljun eur fil-progett ta' Erasmus ghal sentejn...
biex ma nsemmux ir-riforma edukattiva... falliment shih mahduma min-nies li m'ghadnhomx idea ta' x'jigifieri tghallem.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:06
After the Auditor General's report about wasteserv and its shortcomings George Pullicino should resign. Shame!
Darren Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 20:04
Dr. Joseph Muscat jideher li jista’ jofri sens ta’ stabilita’ u bidla bla skossi li ghandna bzonn.
Owen Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:18
nispera li qed tkun sarkastiku...ghax bail out ikun zgur wara li jitla fit-tmexxija Joseph Muscat.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:04
If the EU approved this budget it can be implemented without any problems by whichever party will be in government after the next election, so it makes sense that Labour is keeping its measures.
Marthese Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:12
But is it a good budget or a bad budget...i am not understanding here....please decide JM!!
Maria Magro
Dec 5th 2012, 20:03
x'hinu t-track record tieghek JM? kontra l-EU, kontra l-introduzzjoni tal-Ewro, pataflun ta pariri hziena! ecc
Karl Consiglio
Dec 6th 2012, 01:31
Well said, don't forget to add his stance during the Libya war to your list.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:01
Reading the Sunday Times last weekend, I was given the impression that everyone will benefit from Income tax reform. Sorry to say I was wrong!. Gonzipn did not keep his arch promise.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:58
The Nationalists did a lot of good to this country namely in the financial services and the gaming industry but I believe that this country needs a pm who is in touch with society. Joseph Muscat fits well in this frame. He is in touch with society as his speech proves. He criticises the government but gives it credit where it owns it. Very well done Joseph Muscat.
Marthese Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 20:13
He is just inconsistent and cannot decide what is good from what is bad.
Chris Cocker
Dec 5th 2012, 19:57
Yes, he has a vision and he' s very consistent. What he' s saying is true and I don't know what's all the fuss here!! He promises and he delivers.
Joseph Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 20:14
Tell us his promises then...because you seem to know more than JM himself!!
Angela Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 19:57
How can he criticize education when all those students are graduating and having opportunities abroad? JM is detached from reality!!
Malcolm Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 19:57
Dr. Muscat is very well to the point, this budget is irrelevant in the people's eye because it is clear that this is a pre-electoral budget, which fails consistently to address all the wrong doings that happened throughout the current legislature!
Micheal Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 19:55
Fl-Edukazzjoni; FIl-Livell terzjarju ninsabu inqas mill-medja Ewropea
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 19:55
The government's biggest failure was in the energy sector,Remembering that we paid nearly €170 million for a power station that's work with HF oil and other sources are scare How are we Going to reach the EU target on alternative energy
Julian Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 20:29
... and where was the gas going to come from? Naghmlu xi borehole jew?
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:55
Maturita Politika ... fejn u tajjeb tajjeb fejn u hazin hazin
Alfred Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:52
L-IMF tghid li Malta rnexxielha tevita r-recessjoni...ikwota l-affarijiet sew JM.
M Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 20:12
Malta is STILL in a recession. Know your facts.
Dario Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:16
Figures published by NSO – Malta was in a recession
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120608/local/gdp.423344
Alfred Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 20:23
I am quoting IMF and you are quoting JM...very reliable!!
Dario Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:44
I’m quoting the National Statistics Office
Matthew Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 19:51
ghidilna fuq kif ha zzid l-investiment u t-tkabbir ekonomiku JM....mhux tibqa ma tghid xejn!!
Christina Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 19:49
Joseph Muscat, huwa totalment l-oppost ta Lawrence Gonzi. Onest, b'direzzjoni u jgib l-interess tac-cittadin l-ewwel u qabel kollox.
Monica Bartolo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:06
ibqa' certa sinjorina...serrah rasek kif serrahtha fin-96!!!
Tonio Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 19:44
A statesmanlike speech by the Labour Leader. Exposing the gross incompetence of GonziPN and removing the smoke-screen behind which this arrogant government is hiding. Labour is setting the agenda. GonziPN reacting and trying to catch up.
Josephine Bugeja
Dec 5th 2012, 19:53
tell us more...you seem to know more than JM!
Roberta Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:03
A statesman would provide us his policies...not nothing!!
Lucienne Dimech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:41
What waste of time
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 19:47
March '12 to Dec '12 was a total waste of time... a minority gvt hanging to its last threads of power.
hopefully FD helps you and stops this total waste of time
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:54
agreed ... especially after FRANCO stated he will vote against
Sephora Grixti
Dec 5th 2012, 19:55
YES , We should have gone for elections at least a year ago . Malta is at a standstill !
Charles Fenech
Dec 5th 2012, 20:01
and the country is still performing well economically....tell us more about that!!
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 19:41
Hearing Dr. Muscat about the Price of Fuel In America this week the price went down by $0.70cents So why here the decrease was Just €0.02cents
G. Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 19:52
international economics is a bit more complex than that Mr Zammit!!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 19:53
Ma nahsibx li dak huwa l-punt. Irid jirranga l-kawlata li saret fuq il-minimum wage nahseb!
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:36
@ G Muscat international economics is a bit more complex so what is complex in comparing Prizes
Olivia Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 19:41
JM jaf li ha jivvota konra t-tnaqqis fl-income tax?!
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:47
JM ser jivvota kontra bugdet li il gvern rabat ma vot ta fiducja! tinsewx li Franco Debono!
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 19:49
JM se jivvota kontra ghax ma jemminx fil-politika ta' dan il-gvern. Mieghu, jidher, ser ikun hemm il-maggoranza tal-kamra li ma jemmnux fil-gvern.
Ghax JM ragel, ser izomm il-punti ta' vantagg ghall-poplu (specjalment meta tqis kemm tak fuq rasek dan il-gvern f'hames snin.
Frans Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:50
JM will vote against administration that for more has only had the backing of the minority of seats in government wasting precious time in quarrels instead of implementing the promised change.
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:52
JM ha jivvota kontra l-arroganza ta GONZIPN nsejt li GONZIPN f'diskors tieghu qal li dan il budget ifisser fiducja fil gvern ?
min jafdah il gvern fil verita ? wara BRAZIL Smartcity white rocks 20000 impjieg fantazma BWSC ARRIVA etc etc
jekk qed isegwi tkellem car u tond fuq l-income tax
Franco Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 20:00
il vot ta fiducja f money bill huwa awtomatiku....get your facts right please.
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:37
Bejn Marzu 2012 u Novembru 2012, il-prezz tal-petrol fiz-Zona Ewro naqas bi 6 centezmi kull litru. Madankollu, f’ Malta l-prezz tal-petrol matul l-istess perjodu zdied b’ 6 centezmi. L-istess il-prezz tad-diesel, li fiz-Zona Ewro rohos bi 3 centezmi u f’Malta zdied b’ 2 centezmi bejn Marzu u Settembru ta din is-sena.
Mr Lawrence Calleja
Dec 5th 2012, 19:36
Still nothing that the PL will introduce when in government. This is ridiculous. Why are we the Maltese people being treated like this by the leader of the opposition. Promises, promises, and more vague promises without reliable solutions. Pity that this is the best the opposition can offer. Just pathetic. Malta needs a mature person to lead and not a person who only believes in himself.
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:43
JM's speech is the reply to the budget. In the run-up to the election JM and the PL will present the manifesto. We had a gvt who kept the people wondering what was going to happen in the following months for 9 months and presented a hanging budget. That is what should worry you.
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:46
Haven't you noticed that this is the oppositions reply to the governments budget and not a electoral programme launch!!
Roberta Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:05
yes...an inconsistent reply of a leader who does not know what the best interests of the country are.
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:35
Nhoss li il weghda tal PL rigward il kontijiet tad dawl u ilma ser tghati serhan u nifs lill familja tieghi. Jien nafda lill min diga tah soluzzjonijiet lill gvern u mhux min ivvota bil qalb biex jien nissallab u nhallas iktar!
Peter Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 19:50
ahjar LG jghidilna kif ser jghaddi l-bagit... u kif halla 9 xhur jghaddu ta' gvern ta' minoranza!
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:51
La joghogbu jsaffar il PM jew ahjar xhin jiddettalu Franco Debono tkun taf habib
Alex Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 19:33
U Muscat ikompli ma jghid xejn. Xejn dwar kif se jrahhas id-dawl u l-ilma. Xejn dwar ix-xoghol.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:33
The only hope for this country is to have economic growth and Joseph Muscat is the only one who as pm can reach such a target. JM can offer stability and certainty and in this gonzipn had failed! Today even the middle class is struggling to cope after the burdens which gonzipn had thrown on them. Gonzi did not learn anything from the kitchen visits he said he had done.
Charles Massa
Dec 5th 2012, 19:32
Risposta ghal budget li ta daqqa mortali lil tal PN. Mhux ta b xejn li Gonzi ma ghamilx elezzjoni
Monica Bartolo
Dec 5th 2012, 20:11
Nissuggerilek thares harsa madwarek siehbi!! L-unika daqqa mortali li rajt kienet tal-Lejber wara li Simon Busuttil dahal fit-tmexxija tal-Partit!!!
Conrad Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 19:32
Xbajt nisma lil Joe Muscat iparla fil-vojt. Ilu nofs siegha jitkellem dwar id-dawl u l-ilma u ghadu ma qalx kif ser irahhas il-kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma. Xbajt u xbajt.
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:32
Illum il-familji Maltin u Ghawdxin ihallsu t-tielet l-oghla konijiet tad-dawl fl-Ewropa, u qed
jonqsulhom il-flus fil-but.
Dawn meta tikkomparom mal-pagi taghna taprezza l-ghaqal tal-poplu biex jghaddi min paga sa ohra u mhux lill gvern li jkun salbek!
Mary Bonello
Dec 5th 2012, 19:40
Check your facts and get your numbers right! Super One has anything but track record and reliability of sources! That is incorrect and Joseph Muscat knows it very well...imma biex nirbhu, naghmlu kollox!!
THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS!!
Frans Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:52
Even Eurostat is wrong Mary?
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:52
Il eurostat fejn tridu tikkwotawa imma fejn ma jaqblilkomx le!!
jm busuttil
Dec 5th 2012, 19:31
I will not leave my young children at home alone, same to you it would be suicide leaving you run the country with those same faces around you and with your bahh attitude.
Josephine Bugeja
Dec 5th 2012, 19:54
i prefer the same faces which produced such good results rather than the Mintoff dinosaurs.
Micheal Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 20:07
Sucide for leaving Joseph Muscat run the country ?! I think it's a suicide to leave this oligarchy to keep its claws held firmly on this country. Joseph Muscat is a breath of fresh air for Malta and the Maltese!
jm busuttil
Dec 5th 2012, 20:20
@ Michael Vella
Yes very fresh, the same freshness as when we used to drive behind the old buses.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 19:31
@Carine Aquilina
"MUSCAT = BORING SPEECHES AND NO POLICIES"
But at least he knows what he is saying - unlike GonziPN with his gaffes like the multinational Brazilian company which was supposed to reallocate when at the time it was in fact leaving Malta or the other gaffe about taxing persons earning the minimum wage BUT did not know it!
(jb)
Joanna Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:30
Blue ties won't work!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:30
Gonzipn created the problems and doesn't even know how to solve them!
Josephine Bugeja
Dec 5th 2012, 19:55
Malta has performed well while the Eurosystem is doing really badly..those are the problems created by GonziPN?
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 20:31
When you create things, as the PN have, you come across problems, its part of the challenge, PL won't do anything for the country just to make sure it won't have problems, and that would be terrible.
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:29
This budget is irrelevant. Gonzipn must be judged on his track record as after all the prime minister had declared. Change can only occur if there is a change in government from top to bottom. Well said JM. Labour = hope.
Christina Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 19:28
Diskors mill-aqwa ... ta mexxej li jifhem u jhoss il-polz tal-poplu .
Mary Bonello
Dec 5th 2012, 19:37
Mela mela...genju kien gej! Bhal meta kien qalilna li l-Unjoni Ewropea hu s-salib tal-millenju!!
Robert Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 21:08
So Mary, tell us about EU and its current prosperity...
Franny Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 19:27
Can Dr Muscat please tell us how he plans to reduce energy bills?
Time is running out and he can't go on hiding his own plans for our country.
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:33
Did time run out during the 5 years of increases in the utilities bills?
Francesca Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:38
As with every political party (including PN), electoral manifestos are only released once the electoral campaign is launched. By the looks of it you won't have to wait for long.
Micheal Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 19:27
Finally, we're hearing a speech that's actually addressing important issues with facts in hand and not simply cursory overviews aimed at leading us by the nose!
Peppi Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:27
Just from the start JM's speech is like fresh air and inspires new style of doing politics! He is distinguishing himself among gonzipn, showing energy, determination and leading a united team.
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 19:27
A visionary leader who has shown that he really has a social conscience unlike GonziPN who failed to control the ever spiralling cost of living and in the Budget is even proposing to tax those who earn the minimum wage (single persons) even though he did not know it!
(jb).
Francesca Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:26
Dr Muscat's speech is an oasis of logic and cool amongst the chaos that is the current Gonzipn administration! It's time for a positive change at last, and this man will deliver.
Alex Falzon
Dec 5th 2012, 19:26
Now its time to propose... not criticize... its time to show the real PL... its time to convince the electorate... but nothing ... four years of criticizing one party without challenging with solid proposals.... Im safer with a PN in government
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:30
I feel you Alex.... after 5 years of a gvt without direction or vision, I wouldn't blame you for asking JM for more. That's what happens when you get an incompetent PM
Dario Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 19:47
May I remind you that Dr. Simon Busutill (the-PN-Leader-in-waiting) refrained from giving any details on the PN’s electoral manifesto and plans for the upcoming elections? Is he excused?
Horace Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 19:25
I'm sorry but this is just opportunism!
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:31
Opportunism was last week when after 4 yrs of austerity gonziPN tried to buy us back with an increase in children's allowance and a partial reduction of the income tax...
S Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 19:59
What is exactly opportunism? Are you suggesting to take away the right of reply now?
Lorainne Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:24
Fully agree with Dr Muscat - the steps taken in the energy sector towards green energy were made, but they were baby steps. Whole years were wasted in this sector and so much more could have been done to really become a green state!
joseph borg st john
Dec 5th 2012, 19:44
Joseph Muscat = BLA BLA BLA and no solutions as usual just empty promises .
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:23
For 4 years Gonzi repeated that we were to balance the budget... Nevertheless the EU is forecasting a 2.8% of deficit for next year
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:23
Politika dwar l-Energija trid tkun ibbazata fuq tlett kolonni: security of supply, sostenibilita’ u energija bi prezz affordabbli. Il-Gvern falla fuq it-tlett fronti.
Christina Sammut
Dec 5th 2012, 19:23
Stabilita u certezza huwa dak li ghandu bzonn dal-pajjiz, xi haga li Joseph Muscat biss jista jaghti.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:28
Kif?
Carine Aquilina
Dec 5th 2012, 19:22
MUSCAT = BORING SPEECHES AND NO POLICIES
Francesca Bonello
Dec 5th 2012, 19:22
Muscat is at it again. He's promising to reduce electrictity bills (not water bills) but he's not telling us how, by how much and when.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:13
Maybe he is going to reduce the electricity bill by putting up the water bill.
Diane Abela
Dec 5th 2012, 19:20
Fast forward to mid 2013 and Muscat will be using very different words.
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:17
88,000 at risk of poverty ... just not acceptable
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:12
Not the poverty of Ethiopia don't worry!
Emar Cutajar
Dec 5th 2012, 19:14
So everyone accuses JM of empty promises .... were is the surplus which we were promised to come our way two years ago? What about the 21% of our population who are boarding the poverty line?
elvin borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:13
Nahseb llum f idiskors tieghu il kap tal pl ha jghid kif se jrahhas d dawl..sissa ghadu ma qal xejn ha naraw...
P Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:23
Nahseb iktar se jitkellem dwar kif ma rahhsux dal-gvern.. ax din risposta al budget .. sa fej naf jien
michael scicluna
Dec 5th 2012, 19:13
Min jaqla l-Minimum Wage u ghandu komputazzjoni singola qed ikun intaxxat. Din kienet xi haga li dahlet inkiss inkiss is-sena li ghaddiet.
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:13
Diskors li juri realta filwaqt li joffri kuragg ghal futur.
Alexia Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 19:25
Are you serious?! Realta, kuragg and futur?!
Sounds more like Muscat is living in cuckoo land.
Byron Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:12
Excellent budget speech reply by Dr. Muscat so far.
Chris Portelli
Dec 5th 2012, 19:12
He first criticizes, then he praises...i'm confused!!
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:17
JM is the honest guy. He is not scared of praising what went well. But he also takes a firm stand on what went wrong.
JM is the guy for Malta
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:09
But he is not supposed to be speaking about the Nationalists, he is supposed to be speaking about Labour.
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:10
Point is he says nothing about his own party.
P Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:11
Il-biza juzha biss min ma fadallux iktar xi jghid!
Joseph Muscat hu l-unika tama li fadlilha Malta!
elvin borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:28
Nahseb laktar persuna popolista li qatt kellna go din l gzira ridt tghid..:)
Jurgen Dingli
Dec 5th 2012, 19:11
Jien ma nafx minn fejn Muscat ser igib il-flus la jitla' fil-Gvern. Ser izomm il-Budget 2013, u jzid mieghu, inaqqas il-kontijiet tad-dawl u ilma, jaqleb ghal-gas u hafna hafna iktar weghdi. Tifhmunix hazin, j'Alla jaghmel dak kollu li qed jghid jekk jitla' ghax vera sitwazzjoni "perfetta" tkun ghal Malta, imma ejja nkunu realistici u mhux nweghdu d-dinja.
Lorainne Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:09
Dr. Muscat's speech is firm and concrete - couldn't wish for a better alternative!
J Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 19:15
"Ha naghmlu roadmap" - doesn't sound concrete to me ma nafx
Odette Balzan
Dec 5th 2012, 19:19
Firm and concrete?!? Sounds more like repetitive and shady.
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:30
much more concrete then the 5600 jobs 20000 new jobs Brazil company 10% reduction from the first year, fuel prices, BWSC new powerstation and more ...
get real please
Kevin Frendo
Dec 5th 2012, 19:44
J Micallef: I prefer roadmap to end of the road
Lorainne Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:49
@ J Micallef and Odette Balzan - you people make me feel as if we're listening to two different men. Dr Muscat is not throwing out promises carelessly just to get votes - Muscat is clearly stating that he will remove excessive bureaucracy, give a chance to the self-employed and he is addressing issues which the current government has chosen to ignore. What's shady about that?
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:08
So whats the alternative? Don't tell me what he won't do, tell me what he will do!!
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:08
Atleast JM will not tax people on Minimum Wage ... only cowards do ...
Marija Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 19:14
it's easy to criticize only!!
joseph borg st john
Dec 5th 2012, 19:32
Paul who told you he won t ? How gullibile can you be ?
John Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:04
Dear Joseph, I pretended more of you as you are projecting yourself for being the next prime minister. I have a feeling that next election will be fought just on words, words and more words from the Pl...it seems the substance even though a few it is bad come only from the pn! What a disgrace of opposition!
J Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 19:10
Agreed...such a disappointment!
Byron Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:14
You expect the Opposition to be a fanclub of Gonzipn by any chance?
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:38
what substance john exactly? with "substance" i include something substantial ... the 5BILLION eur of debt
John Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:40
Byron then how come Joseph is saying he will maintain the same budget measures??? It is clear as cristal the only credible policies have come from the pn and the pl will only follow ...I can see no real change with pl!!
Oxana Caruana
Dec 5th 2012, 19:03
If J Muscat votes against next year's budget I will vote PN again and again.
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:08
If the budget does not make it through parliament it is only the gvt fault. He has known of the FD problem since march. LG's delayed tactics kept him in power for the year but with a stalled parliament and a hanging budget. It is only Gonzi's fault.
Lorainne Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:12
It is a parliamentary custom to vote against a government's budget Ms. Caruana! A budget vote is a vote of confidence in the current administration - what opposition could have confidence in the government?
Robert Psaila
Dec 5th 2012, 19:01
Gvern "GDID" laburista...just look who's sitting next to him!!
John Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:41
It's bizarre!!
Robert Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 21:01
There is AD. I recommend you vote for them.
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 19:01
Dr. Muscat said that no matter what happens to the budget increments will be given from 1st. January
Mary Bonello
Dec 5th 2012, 19:06
so what? our national budget counts 2 billion euros...and we want guarantees on every 1c of those.
Ma dawn nafu fejn qeghdin...ma Joseph ma nafux u min kif jidhru l-affarijiet ma tantx hemm tama sabiha!
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:42
@ Mary Bonello We will know our true finance situation only after the election
Alex Falzon
Dec 5th 2012, 18:59
Jigifieri f'dawn l-ahhar erba snin il-partit progressiv li tant jiftahru bih ma kienx kapaci jfassal pjan finanzjaru minflok dan tal-gvern?? Nistaqsi, jekk il-gvern (skond il-PL) m'ghandux direzzjoni, kisser l-ekonomija, gholla t-tariffi ecc... kif se jzomm il-qafas tal-budget? jista xi hadd jispjegali.....
John Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:16
Mistoqsija b hafna sens. Jista xi hadd jispjegali x hemm Gdid fil pl? Wicc muscat li l Ewwel kien kontra l ewropa b ruhhu u gismu u Issa jipprezenta lilu nnifsu bhala ewropew! J
Byron Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:16
Il-Partit Laburista ser izomm il-mizuri pozittivi ta' dan il-budget. Dr. Muscat ghadu kif qal li l-Partit Laburista filwaqt li ser izomm il-mizuri pozittivi ta' dan il-budget, ser jiftakar ukoll f'dawk minsija min dan il-gvern, inkluz dawk li sfortunatament jaqalghu il-minimun wage, u li dan il-gvern qed jintaxxa lil dawn in-nies li diga ma humiex qed ilehqu mal-hajja.
Miriam Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 18:56
Dan budget li gie approvat diga mill-EU....Sinjal li huwa budget tajjeb Joseph!!
Richard Chetcuti
Dec 5th 2012, 19:03
it will take much more than that to prove to us that he is capable of leading the country. We want plans and policies!!
Marija Falzon
Dec 5th 2012, 18:56
Must note that Joseph Muscat does not make hollow promises like the Brazilian Company, and does not lie about the minimum wage not being taxed, and above all, is leading a united party, not a minority faction.
Alfred Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:06
it would be more correct to state that Joseph doesn't make any promises at all
Karl Consiglio
Dec 5th 2012, 21:03
Sounds like he's not going to do anything.
A Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 18:55
Leader of the opposition debating the budget. One would expect him going through the new measures and suggesting better ones, Instead we get 80% of the speech being an attack on the prime minister on non budget and medicore issues.
Charles Massa
Dec 5th 2012, 18:55
Dr Muscat ghandu ragun li jghid li poplu se jiggudika l gvern ghamel matul dawn il 5 snin. Il poplu mhux se jinsa il wedghi minn GONZIPN li ma twettqux, iz zieda fil salarju ta prim ministru u l ministri, l gholi ta kontijiet ta dawl/ilma. iz zieda kull xahar fil prezz tal petrol/diese/gas.L unemployment li qieghed mas 7000, xoghol prekarju. Waiting list l isptar. Prim ministru bla idejat
joseph borg st john
Dec 5th 2012, 19:25
Iva Charlie veru il poplu se jiggudika ghax il poplu ma jinsix is 70 s u 80 s ghax listes nies ta dak iz zmien hemm fil partit lejburist.
Tony Psaila
Dec 5th 2012, 18:55
ma tisthix issemmi lil Mario Monti...xi hadd jara ahbarijiet??
N. Montanaro
Dec 5th 2012, 18:55
Yes Joe, we might not have all the commodities we could have afforded 20 years ago(or do we?),but we are happy with the situation.In the UK people are taking loans to finance their electricity bills,and here we are, paying our bills, taking a holiday (or 2 or 3 or 4) a year, waiting for the weekend to go out...But we know most people will vote for you not because they want to,but cause of cucatii
Robert Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 20:56
It's so bad elsewhere that tourism here is increasing....
Richard Chetcuti
Dec 5th 2012, 18:53
Ghalfejn ha jivvota kontra l-budget jekk irid izomm il-qafas?? X inkosistenza!!
Daniela Cutajar
Dec 5th 2012, 18:48
Muscat: "Is-silga nhallet issa"! What a lousy politician.
He was the one to suggest a wage freeze. Remember?
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:13
He didn't dear. Clean your ears. It was an entire economical concept which explained that it was useless to increase wages unless you strengthened the economy first.
This gvt started taxing those on the minimum wage!
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:46
Daniela ghandek il wicc titkellem fuq il minimum wage meta Tonio qal min jaqla l-minimum wage ha jintaxxah ?
get real
Matthew Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 18:48
I cannot believe all this negativity on the budget!!
Franny Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 18:46
Muscat is at it again.
This is the fourth speech as a reply to Tonio Fenech's budget speech and he's still without any details of what he plans to do if returned (God forbid) to power in a couple of weeks time.
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:10
Tonio Fenech's speech was practically without details and unprepared... that's how the minimum wage earners will start paying inocme tax.
Anna Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 18:46
Ghidilna xi haga gdida Joseph
Jerome Cachia
Dec 5th 2012, 18:52
Ghandu r-roadmap hi!! Issa jaghmlu l-audits (read: transfers) ta' Helena Dalli u malajr ikollna iktar xi haga gdida Anna. ..aktar qaghad u nies bla xoghol!!
Byron Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 19:19
Mela issa mhux iwieghed kollox lil kullhadd?
Iddeciedu please!
Roberta Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:09
semplici hafna...jew ma jghid xejn jew iwieghed kollox...vera ragel inkonsistenti
Martina Caruana
Dec 5th 2012, 18:44
Muscat = Empty promises
Mario Falzon
Dec 5th 2012, 18:43
Muscat's speech is full of buzzwords:
1. Road map
2. Weghdi
3. Vizjoni
bla bla bla
Anna Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 18:45
we want facts not buzzwords
Paul Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 19:42
@Anna if you are following well, JM is only stating facts. would be interesting if you identify where JM is lying ... you can try
Roberta Mifsud
Dec 5th 2012, 20:08
it is interesting to identify the promises not the lies...since he is promising nothing
Joseph Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 18:36
always the same stuff...we want to hear your plans dear Joseph!
Jonathan Mallia
Dec 5th 2012, 18:41
il-pjan tal-MLP hu r-roadmap :|
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:11
What worries me is that you spent 5 years askingJoseph what he stood for while forgetting that in gvt there was GonziPN who managed by crisis
John Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 20:39
He was not presenting the election program .He was answering the Minister's cycling words
Mark Debono
Dec 5th 2012, 18:35
Veru li ahna kellna inqas flus fil-but milli kellna qabel l-1987??
joseph borg st john
Dec 5th 2012, 18:55
A roadmap that will lead us into a concrete wall. malta beware . Labour won t work .
Matthew Gatt
Dec 5th 2012, 19:08
In real terms you have less money than 1998...
David Meli
Dec 5th 2012, 18:33
Muscat huwa maqtugh min-nies...mohhu biss biex jaghmel il-gambetti biex jirbah l-elezzjoni. Ma nafx kif wiehed ma jirrikonoxxix il-gid li hawn! Labour won't work!
John Grech
Dec 5th 2012, 19:44
David l program Tal pl huwa car daqs il kristall ..... Jirbah l elezzjoni imbaghad naraw!!!
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