The annual Budget debate has always been considered asa dependable yardstick to measure the state of affairs of our political parties and their leaders. Forget all about the cheers, the jeers, the facial expressionsand whatever else you might have heard during this debate. Concentrate insteadon facts, the bare facts and, more importantly, on the vision for the future both camps are offering.

I refrain from commenting on the Prime Minister’s show – because it was precisely that – as I may otherwise be accused of devious partisanship and prejudice. Alternatively I prefer to focus on Simon Busuttil’s incisive reply to the Budget and where that will take us.

In his two-hour speech, the Opposition leader succeeded in giving an in-depth overview of two and a half years of socialist administration with all its fallout.

Busuttil’s main thrust in the first part of his reply concerned energy and transport, showing that he has both hands firmly on what are probably Malta’s most problematic areas. He gave an honest opinion about the situation in both sectors and moved on to clearly indicate how a Nationalist government would proceed. Busuttil once more amply demonstrated that he has nothing to hide from the people, pledging to make known reports he commissioned on these and other areas and not leaving proposed solutions to be revealed in the last phase of the legislature or worse, as Muscat did, to take the people by surprise in the electoral campaign.

Dr Busuttil then spoke about another festering sore being forced upon our population by a gluttonous administration with no limits: highly rewarding jobs for the boys. While indicating people in positions of so-called trust, Busuttil forcefully made the point that, unmistakenly, all of these positions came to be occupied by relatives of ministers, parliamentary secretaries, MPs or other Labour-affiliated personalities.

I am very satisfied that several paliamentary questions I had posed about government consultancies have finally uncovered the lid over some very scandalous compensation with the only condition being that the holders are in Muscat’s good books. Naturally, the list is not as exhaustive and complete as the people are entitled to know. In fact, it has been revealed by the Times of Malta that ministers’ consultants alone cost the tax payer no less then €3.4million per annum.

The PN is alive and kicking: alive as a sprightly Opposition and kicking its own bad habits and at the government excesses and injustices

Busuttil’s genuine scorn during his speech about these unjust, and sometimes improper, handouts, expresses fully the disdain of the majority of people for a Prime Minister and a governance that, shamefully, wants us to forget they had promised with much fanfare that they will strictly adhere to meritocracy and accountability.

In a previous article, I already hadthe opportunity to refer to the handsome compensantion being dished outto Labour deputy leader Toni Abela, which also emerged from a reply to oneof my PQs. I will recall that he is being paid three different compensations for being a government consultant on transport, oil exploration and - listen to it - poverty! Can any righteous citizen approve of such a blatant offence by this Labour government?

A few weeks ago I attend the highly-successful EY annual conference during which Lord Peter Mandelson delivered a factual analysis on Malta’s competitivenss. But Mandelson is foremostly a politician who is never afraid to say exactly what he thinks. He was at the heart of New Labour spearheaded by a formidable trio which included also Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

When a few weeks ago the British Labour Party elected Jeremy Corbyn as its leader, Mandelson entered the fray once again, denouncing this ill-advised move but, at the same time, called one and all at Labour – old hands, new recruits and the next generation of leaders – to face up “the test of our political lives”.

In a very interesting article, Lord Mandelson gave his recipe for a successful political party: strong values; a clear identity; policies that people regard as relevant and workable; and a leader who embodies these things.

Applying this criteria to Dr Busuttil’s budget reply and considering the leadership qualities he brought with him during this relatively short time since the last election, I feel very much encouraged. That is also what I hear when I meet constituents and from others as well. The PN is alive and kicking: alive as a sprightly Opposition and kicking its own bad habits and at this government excesses and injustices.

Busuttil’s strong values, particularly those of honesty and openness have generally pervaded in our party and its structures. While working incessantly, he is once more giving a clear identity of who we are and what we stand for. At the same time, through newly set-up structures, the party is busily updating and formulating policies which relate to the people and which may readily be taken up if and when the party receives a mandate from the electorate.

Simon Busuttil looked very confident in his Budget speech and this confidence is cutting his teeth in a fast, progressive process which is, ultimately, in our country’s best interest.

The walking is proceeding at a rapid pace taking all of us with it.

Kristy Debono is Nationalist Party spokeswoman on financial services, IT and gaming.

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