The Opposition is seeking to pin down the Government to commit itself to creating 25,000 new jobs during this legislature.

The Government will also fight precarious employment, which is detrimental to the economy

Moving an amendment to the government motion that thanks President George Abela for his speech at the inaugural session of the 12th legislature, Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi urged the Government to clarify its position on all the sectors that were not mentioned in the speech.

The Opposition, he said, promises to keep the Government under scrutiny and hold it accountable for public spending and for the behaviour of its ministers and parliamentary secretaries according to their code of ethics.

Dr Azzopardi said the Opposition would do everything necessary so that the people would achieve a better quality of life in the framework of social justice, democracy and freedom.

Opening the 10-hour debate on the motion, 26-year-old Parliamentary Secretary Ian Borg, the youngest member on the government benches, said the Government was seeking to establish people’s trust in the politicians who should be accountable for their actions.

In this regard, the Government had already introduced the Bill removing prescription with regard to corruption committed by politicians and would soon present the whistleblower and party-financing legislation.

In his speech, the President had said the Government would do its best to improve the people’s lot. It was committed to have modern, sustainable and clean energy.

Some 8,400 families benefitted from EU funds to purchase photovoltaic panels and, by 2020, Malta would generate 20 per cent of its energy through alternative sources.

Pointing out that 40 per cent of children did not carry on with their studies after secondary schooling, Dr Borg said education would be the Government’s priority and it would fight illiteracy. One should not only focus on the building of new schools but also on the learning process through continuous investment in institutions such as the university. The Government had already increased the scholarship fund to €2 million.

The Government would also fight precarious employment, which was detrimental to the economy.

It also believed that a free, excellent health sector was the people’s right as was the strengthening of civil liberties. Society should truly celebrate diversity while understanding the separation between Church and State. It should be able to celebrate Maltese traditions without discriminating against anyone.

There should be a change in the way the Government used people’s money. Economic growth should truly reach everyone.

The Government would also introduce more checks and balances in the judicial system. It was also showing its commitment in the European sector by, for the first time, dedicating a ministry to European affairs.

Concluding, Dr Borg said the Government aimed to be closer to the people while improving transparency and accountability.

Dr Azzopardi described the President’s speech as the most insulting, depreciative, superficial and poor speech since the 1987 election. Even former Labour Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici called it “partisan” and “unacceptable”.

The arrogant swipes at the Opposition had been in bad taste and, instead of promoting unity, the Government had instigated division. The speech lacked moral high ground, humility and substance.

The Government had failed to explain its policy and plans with regard to many sectors, not least to job creation, incentives to small enterprises and the self-employed and venture capital.

Dr Azzopardi believed it was the Prime Minister’s responsibility to present an adequate speech and said he was against the notion that, in future, the speech should be delivered by the Prime Minister.

During past legislature inaugurations, it had always worked well, even in 1987, after the PN had been in opposition for 16 years of turbulent conditions “bordering on civil war”.

It was ironic that the Government had repeatedly said it would govern with humility only to use such an occasion to insult not only the Opposition but also the thousands who had voted PN. Humility had definitely not been shown when most permanent secretaries had been replaced in a bid to politicise the public sector. He did not agree that a “militant person” should be chosen to head the public service.

It was the PN in government that had shown true humility when it appointed a former deputy leader of the PL as President of Malta.

The debate continues.