A Xarabank debate this evening saw both major party leaders agree that regardless of who won the March 9 election, the real winner would be “the Maltese people”.
The debate began with a fiery Lawrence Gonzi attacking his counterpart Joseph Muscat for his criticism of the country’s economy – which led to Dr Muscat accusing the Prime Minister of having “lied” to many workers in the run-up to the previous election.
Both men rapidly exchanged arguments and barbs over work creation and economic management. Dr Muscat again claimed that the PN would raise daytime electricity tariffs if re-elected, while Dr Gonzi repeatedly chided his counterpart for having suggested the Cypriot economic model as one worth following.
He questioned the PL’s entire electoral programme, saying that there was little of substance other than rhetoric and empty words, prompting Dr Muscat to sarcastically ask him whether the PN had been “criticising nothing” when poking holes in the PL’s energy plan.
Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Michael Briguglio spiced up the debate’s second half by laying out what an AD seat in parliament would accomplish.
If in opposition, AD would sit on committees and move specific pieces of legislation, such as to raise the minimum wage. If AD found itself as a kingpin, capable of forming a coalition, it would turn to the party which it found itself in most agreement with, he said.
That prompted the most memorable line of the night: “That is the way things happen in Europe. We are not like Franco Debono or Beppe Grillo. We are not anti-politics,” he said.
Dr Gonzi returned to the PN’s job-centred focus and made an impassioned appeal to first-time voters, telling them “when the smoke has cleared, will you find jobs?”.
Dr Muscat told voters that the country was aching for a change in direction and again questioned the PN’s economic forecasts, saying even the Central Bank had disagreed with the figures. He warned “the PN and its projections will drive the country into a wall.”
But having duelled for the best part of two hours, the political leaders agreed with one another that, when push came to shove, next week's election would not be the be-all and the end-all for the country.
"I want all of Malta to win. Everyone should vote according to their wishes but we are all Maltese," Dr Muscat said.
"History teaches us that it is the Maltese people who are always the winners," Dr Gonzi said. "We argue about politics and we each have our colour - let's not hide it - but it ends at that. I salute all politicians because they have put themselves at the country's service," Dr Gonzi said.