A future Nationalist government will act on cases of political discrimination, party leader Simon Busuttil has pledged.

Addressing supporters in Mosta yesterday, Dr Busuttil said an office had been set up within the PN to receive complaints of political discrimination.

He accused the government of creating injustices by sidelining people because of their political affiliation.

Dr Busuttil urged those who suffered discrimination to come forward and lodge their complaint with the PN.

The new office will be led by PN MP Robert Cutajar and will receive complaints and requests.

Dr Busuttil said it was important for the PN to listen to people, including those who felt aggrieved by the actions of previous PN administrations.

On the local election campaign trail in Mosta where the PN will seek to retain its majority, Dr Busuttil said the government lacked transparency.

He accused it of knowing who would be getting the concession for the management and operation of healthcare and ancillary services at St Luke’s Hospital, Karin Grech Rehabilitation Centre and the Gozo general hospital.

A call for proposals was issued on Friday with Dr Busuttil saying it made little sense that the government had already quantified the project’s value at €200 million when private companies still had to submit their proposals.

“Does the government already know to whom it will award the project?”

Turning to the economy, Dr Busuttil said statistics showed that the average weekly wage over the past two years had grown by €3.50 when under the full five years of the PN administration it grew by €10.

It was worrying that growth in the average wage had slowed down and this particularly affected pensioners and minimum wage earners.

Dr Busuttil said while the average wage had decelerated, the government went on an extravagant spending spree, employing 5,000 people in the civil service to buy votes and accommodate supporters.

He accused the government of secrecy when it continued to refuse to publish public contracts, including the ones signed with Henley & Partners, Electrogas and Shanghai Electric Power. The Prime Minister should have also published all private e-mails exchanged with the owners of the Café Premier.

Throughout his speech, Dr Busuttil spoke about the difference PN councillors would make in their respective localities, citing Mosta as an example.

He thanked outgoing mayor Shirley Farrugia who, he said, had asked not to re-contest, and listed the roads done in the locality by the PN-led council.

He appealed to residents in these streets to show appreciation with their vote in the election.

“This is the moment of truth,” he said.