Faced by growing public anger, the prime minister was indicating that he would hand out the ‘crumbs’ to the people in the forthcoming budget, such as by reducing electricity and fuel prices, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said this morning.

Speaking in a short Radio 101 interview, Dr Busuttil said the difference between the PN and the PL was that the former worked for all the people and was not in anyone’s pocket, while the Labour government’s record was the way how it benefited a core of supporters.

The way how Labour worked was shown by the manner how top level government officials had been found to have set up companies in Panama, a jurisdiction known to be used by people who hid away ill-gotten money, while many pensioners could not make ends meet.

Another example was the Libya health visas scandal, where a person close to Castille, had reportedly abusively made €150,000 a month.

Were health visas being issued on the basis of bribery? Were security checks being made?

The prime minister had not had the decency to even appoint a public inquiry on this scandal, Dr Busuttil said. 

He recalled that a year ago, in the National Security Committee, he raised his fears about the way health visas were granted. The prime minister had said there was no wrongdoing. Now what was resulting was the sort of thing usually seen on mafia films.

“This sort of dirt will not be acceptable with me as prime minister,” Dr Busuttil said.

The Opposition leader also hit out at government actions which had led to the PA granting permits for towers in Mrieħel and Sliema. The government, he said had hijacked independent institutions and it was right that civil society was protesting.

But it appeared that environmental ruin would continue, with eyes now set on ‘development’ at  Wied Incita.

The PN, he said, would follow policies from which everyone benefited, and not just a few.

It appeared that in the coming Budget, the prime minister would try to silence growing anger by the people in general. He was giving indications that water and electricity bills and fuel tariffs would be reduced.

But this should have been done long ago as oil prices tumbled.

“He has robbed us for two years and now he will give us something back and expect the people’s gratitude,” Dr Busuttil said.   

But these, he added, would only be the crumbs from people who had gorged themselves at the table. Those who had secret companies in Panama could never distribute wealth in a fair manner.