‘PL links with big business worrying’

The electorate was expecting clear answers on the connections between Labour leader Joseph Muscat and “disgruntled big businessmen”, Nationalist Party deputy leader Simon Busuttil yesterday said.

Those who expected to get something they didn’t have a right to are finding Labour

Addressing a press conference, Dr Busuttil challenged Dr Muscat in the wake of “serious accusations” made by the former deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia in an interview with The Sunday Times.

Dr Busuttil said that while Dr Muscat was clearly shying away from reacting to Dr Farrugia’s accusations, the PL’s admission that it was welcoming disgruntled businessmen showed how these contractors are already dictating Labour’s policy.

“Disgruntled businessmen are those who expected to get something they didn’t have a right to. Now they are finding the refugeof Labour.”

The PN’s deputy leader recalled Dr Farrugia had accused Dr Muscat of being dishonest, lying and of turning the party from one defending the working class to a party of contractors. Labour had lost its soul and was morally bankrupt, Dr Busuttil said.

“The electorate needs to know what kind of Prime Minister they could be getting.”

Turning to healthcare, Dr Busuttil said the PN would be continuing to build on the successes already achieved in recent years, with an emphasis on primary healthcare and tackling diabetes, which affects 10 per cent of the Maltese population.

Dr Busuttil said the continued investment in health and the provision of a quality, free service could only continue if the country’s finances remained on track.

The Labour proposals, particularly on energy, would mean the country would not be able to afford the current free services.

On the other hand, the PN would be investing in three state-of-the-art regional health centres and new rehabilitation services.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he was confident the country could afford to keep healthcare free of charge the same way it had done in the past five turbulent years.

The Government had increased health services and free medicines while lowering its deficit more than other EU countries.

“If we could keep healthcare free during the storm, while increasing the services we offered, we could keep doing this once the storm passes, and I’m sure it will pass,” he said.