Simon Busuttil yesterday warned the government that consensus would not come for free as political patronage was taken to the “extreme”.
The Opposition leader said he was ready to offer cooperation to achieve consensus on key issues that outlived the life of any administration.
However, this was conditional on the government’s commitment to eradicate the culture of political patronage, he told a gathering of businesspeople in the presence of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
“I will not offer consensus for free. You know as well as I do that there is no such thing as a free lunch,” Dr Busuttil said when addressing the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry.
He insisted political patronage had festered for “far too long” in the fabric of social and business life and was “taken to extreme” in the past 20 months.
I will not offer consensus for free. You know as well as I do that there is no such thing as a free lunch
“We cannot talk of excellence if the main economic and political representatives are not themselves infused with an attitude of professionalism and ethics,” Dr Busuttil said.
Speaking after Dr Busuttil, the Prime Minister opted to focus on the government’s economic strategy.
In a single political remark, Dr Muscat took a shot at the Nationalist Party’s proposal for a tax cut across the board (see opposite page). “I find it ironic that the Opposition leader speaks of fiscal responsibility on the very same day that his party proposes a wide-ranging tax cut without saying how it will be financed.”
He was referring to the PN’s commitment to put financial sustainability at the core of its economic and fiscal policy.
Dr Busuttil opened his address with a dig at the government while congratulating the chamber for releasing an economic vision at the right time.
“We are already one third into the present legislative mandate. It is late enough to have given the government ample time to devise its own plan but soon enough to make up for the government’s failure to do so,” Dr Busuttil said.
He insisted the government had to commit to transparency “in deed not just in word” and criticised the administration for “systematically” flouting rules of recruitment and career progression in the public sector.
“This style of governance does not sit well with the vision for Malta being debated today,” Dr Busuttil said.
He promised a future PN government would aim for a leaner public sector and “a liberal orientation” towards business regulation while encouraging home-grown businesses to expand beyond the island’s shores.
Dr Muscat focused on the government’s commitment to tap growing economies outside Europe.
“Those investing in Malta have to feel at home and what they were promised has to be given fast... we are reengineering our systems for greater efficiency,” he said.
He noted that reducing the cost of energy was one measure aimed at helping enterprise remain competitive.
The liberalisation of shop opening hours was also on the agenda and the Budget would pinpoint clear initiatives for public-private partnerships, Dr Muscat added.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com