What do you think of the fact that the Budget wasn’t approved in Parliament?
I think it won’t really make a difference since it was more of a political gimmick. Any party that will be in power next year will decide based on its own political agenda. Matt Attard, 19, Bachelor of Commerce.
In my opinion the Budget was appropriate, considering the problems Malta and the EU faced in the past couple of years. Yasmine Amri, 18, Mcast-Btec Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering.
It was predictable that the Budget was not going to be approved. The Budget presented much more positive measures and the Opposition is willing to implement these measures if it is given power to govern Malta in the coming election. Matthew Saliba, 24, Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering.
Do you think the Labour Party was right to vote against it despite admitting it was a good Budget?
Not really. If you think something is right you do not go against it, especially something this important and considering the island’s current economic situation. It only added to more insecurity among the people. Matt Attard.
Despite it being a good Budget, the Opposition always has to oppose what the Government might say or do. So, it had to go against the Budget. Yasmine Amri.
It was clear that the Labour Party was not backing the Government with respect to certain issues, such as Arriva and the power station extension.
The Opposition was consistent by voting against the Government and the fact that the Budget vote was turned into a confidence vote against the Prime-minister led to the outcome. Though the Labour Party admitted it was a good Budget, it was unlikely that the Opposition would show confidence in the Prime Minister. So the vote may have been justifed. Matthew Saliba.
Do you think Franco Debono was right to vote against it?
Not really. Everyone is free to voice his political opinion and to vote according to his belief, even though he is meant to support a particular political party, but I do not agree with the way he did it and all the commotion he created. Matt Attard.
Obviously, in the past couple of months, Dr Debono had some issues with the Government which may be because he was fed up with the way the it was ruling Malta, so he thought this would be a great opportunity to make the Nationalist Party look bad and for the Labour Party to overrule it. Yasmine Amri.
I am not an avid follower of politics so I’m not in a position to determine what’s right and what is not regarding Dr Debono’s vote, but it was a direct consequence of what happened throughout this legislature. Matthew Saliba.
Interviews conducted by Insite – The Student Media Organisation.