The Nationalist Party asked today why water, electricity and fuel prices were being kept high when, according to the government, the economy was doing well. 

Referring to comments by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, the party said that when, in the past, the international oil price was at the level it is now, the local diesel price was half what it is today. The price was petrol was 83c while today it is  €1.32.

The party observed that most of Malta's GDP growth was the result of employment and salaries in the public service. 

Even the International Monetary Fund warned last month that a steep increase in government recurrent expenditure would make it difficult for the government to achieve its financial targets.

The PN said conditions for workers in the manufacturing industry were deteriorating and some were losing their jobs, such as at De La Rue. official figures showed that industrial production and exports were low, with some growth last year not being enough to recover the losses made in 2013 and 2014.

While the country was benefiting from an improved international economic climate, the government as giving scant attention to sustainability the PN warned.