Whatever his public face tries to express, Joseph Muscat must be regretting the two-day build-up of words he teased the country with as he gave notice of the “positive” news his government was about to give.

The media speculated that the government was about to announce some major foreign investment or an initiative to generate jobs, a breakthrough in oil exploration, a major health revamp, a roadmap for Air Malta, or a cut in taxes. It was none of the above.

Instead, Dr Muscat announced a reduction of two cents in the price of fuel and that the price of diesel would remain unchanged until the end of the year. There would also be a reduction of €1.30 in the price of gas cylinders. Wow.

Summoned to a hastily-called press conference at Auberge de Castille addressed by Dr Muscat and Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi, with a backdrop of EU and Maltese flags, reporters last Wednesday were left flabbergasted at the way the Prime Minister had raised expectations. So was the rest of the country.

Let’s forget for a moment that the reduction in petrol price merely reversed the increase in price imposed last year. Let’s also try to ignore the fact that gas cylinder usage goes down drastically for families during the warmer months.

Also, while fuel price stability could encourage better planning for both families and business, what actually happens if the international price of fuel and gas goes down?

It is even more unfathomable seeing that the government only recently delivered on its far-more effective electoral pledge to reduce electricity rates.

While hyping up the “good news” on bread-and-butter issues can have political advantages, governments need to make sure that the initiative is wide-ranging to leave a decent amount of cash in people’s pockets. As the Nationalist Party rightly pointed out, Wednesday’s announcement harks back to the Mintoffian days when the revision of prices of canned tuna was read out in Parliament.

The announcement would have had more credibility had it been announced through the usual Enemalta press statement. But for some inexplicable reason, the Prime Minister decided to go the extra mile.

Even worse was the timing. On Wednesday, Malta marked the 10 years since it joined the EU, its most significant act as a nation since 1964. Comparisons between the celebrations of the Nationalists’ political legacy and Dr Muscat’s fuel pledge are inevitable.

So what was Dr Muscat’s ultimate aim? Was he trying to divert attention from issues like rising unemployment and spring hunting? Does he really think the electorate is so gullible to be impressed with a government which reduces its fuel bill by a few euros a year?

In the past few weeks, the Prime Minister has been trying hard to appeal to the lowest common denominator, even calling in the so-called “soldiers of steel”. Is this because the government cannot deliver on its many pre-electoral promises?

The public is still waiting for the government to deliver on far more important matters – public transport, creation of jobs, meritocracy and the environment. Instead, the country is being regaled with cheap moves and passé political stunts.

Labour raised expectations before its electoral victory last year. Its 36,000 majority only served to raise them further. Yet more than a year down the line, the government is either unwilling or unable to turn big talk into reality.