I cannot understand how Franco Debono can say in his speech before the vote on the Budget last Monday that “the foundation stone of true democracy is being placed here and now”. It seems he has forgotten that the foundation stone was laid when the Maltese were given the right to vote.

The word democracy is widely used by many a politicians simply because it sounds good and gives the people the feeling that something is being done right. However, this is not always the case.

Some of the main principles of democracy are not only the right to vote, freedom of speech and choice, freedom to work and seek education, equality and justice but also the right to take and to have what is rightfully yours – and the Budget is one of these. MPs must understand that they are empowered by the people, working on our behalf for the benefit of the country. The Budget does not belong to the Government or to any individual but to the country and its people and this is where Debono messed up because he denied the people what is rightfully ours – which goes against democracy itself.

As for the Opposition, well, they have always voted against the Budget and whether they made the right choice this time, I guess only the outcome of the coming election can answer that question.

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