Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this evening hit out at the government after its first year in office, saying that a government which claimed to be Gvern li jadem (A government which works) had instead turned out to be a Gvern li jahdmek (A government which deceives you),
Speaking at a press conference, he said this trait could be seen in much of what the government had done, not least in the way appointments were made, the way how ministers and parliamentary secretaries were allowed to sidestep the code of ethics and the declaration of assets, and the way how persons who had been appointed on merit in the public service were replaced by persons whose only qualification was their loyalty to the Labour Party.
He criticised the government over unemployment, the drop in exports, the way it was tackling the smart meters scam, the citizenship scheme, the situation which had deteriorated in the health service, interference in the police, and the plans to moor a gas storage ship in Marsaxlokk Bay.
The country, he said, was experiencing the return to the dark years of labour where transparency was being thrown out of the window with the government refusing to publish details on important deals such as the contract it signed with Henley and partners to start selling Maltese passports.
The Opposition, he said, was being responsible and constructive, as shown in the various debates in Parliament when it moved amendments to improve legislation, and in the way it would vote in favour of the appointment of the new President despite the prime minister having failed to hold meaningful consultation with the opposition before nominating Ms Coleiro Preca.
When he spoke about meritocracy, Dr Busuttil said there was no doubt that a mechanism needed to be set up to ensure that this could be observed, such as by parliamentary scrutiny of appointments for important posts.
Dr Busuttil said that the opposition was ready for talks on constitutional reform and he felt that the time was ripe for possible important changes. However he warned that if the Government continues to be arrogant and did not show respect to the country's opposition it shouldn't expect any cooperation.
"We are giving continuous messages that we are a mature and effective opposition. The fact that despite the government's sheer arrogance we are going to be the first opposition ever to back a president from the opposite political side is a case in point. "
"However, our cooperation has its limits and the government should not expect more cooperation if its continues to rubbish the opposition."
PN leader Simon Busuttil yesterday said that the opposition is open to enter into talks on constitutional reform and feels that the time is ripe for possible important changes. However he warned that if the Government continues to be arrogant and doesn't show respect to the country's opposition it shouldn't expect any cooperation.
"We are giving continuous messages that we are a mature and effective opposition. The fact that despite the government's sheer arrogance we as going to be the first opposition ever to back a president from the opposite political side is a case in point. "
"However, our cooperation has its limits and the government should not expect more cooperation if its continues to rubbish the opposition."
Addressing a press conference on labour's first year in government, dr Busuttil said that the first twelve months have been marked by favoritism, nepotism, injustices and arrogance.
"'Just a year on, labour's trumping slogan of Malta taghna Lkoll has become the biggest joke. No one believes it anymore and the country has been turned into a country suitable only for labour leaning persons."
He said that from the promise of meritocracy, we have a situation were wives of ministers and friends of the prime ministers wife are given cushy and lucrative jobs while the number of unemployed is reaching record highs. He said that once again the country's institutions are being politicized mentioning the army and the police as examples. He said that wit the appointment of a labour activist as police commissioner, the police force is demoralized with the government interfering in the investigations of the police.
He said that the Givernment is also lowering the trust in the judiciary, by turning over backwards to make sure that judge Lino Farrugia Sacco - who's conduct has been censured by the commission for the administration of Justice - is not impeached because his son is a labour candidate.
Dr Busuttil said that the government is also not performing on the economy where trade and commerce are low, exports are down and the country is still in an excessive deficit procedure. He said that during the first month of this year only, the deficit is up 30 million.
According to the PN leader, the country is also experiencing the return to the dark years of labour where transparency is being thrown out of the window with the government refusing to publish details on important deals such as the contract it signed with Henley and partners to start selling Maltese passports.
Dr Busuttil said that from a zero tolerance on corruption the government turned to 100 per cent tolerance and is giving those who bribed to change their electricity smart metres a total amnesty.
The on leader accused the prime minister of choosing its priorities wrong by allowing the people of Marsaxlokk to put their lives at risk through an LNG tanker in the port so that a new gas power station can be built in the shortest possible time.