The government does not have the economic credentials to lead the economy out of the recession, according to Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat.
“The economy needs a clear intervention by a focused government that is not distracted by internal battles of who to appoint as minister but is focused on the country’s economy,” Dr Muscat said in a phone interview on One Radio while on a short visit to the United Arab Emirates.
However, Dr Muscat said the new economic figures confirmed what families had known for a long time – the economy was not generating wealth as expected and that wealth was not distributed fairly.
He was concerned at the government’s reaction to the news, saying he thought it would be “realistic”.
There was a “ridiculous situation” of “two weights and two measures Finance Minister Tonio Fenech had said the recession was affected by microchip giant STMicroelectronics’s drop in exports.
“So when things are doing badly, it is the fault of STMicroelectronics.
“When things are doing well and the economy is growing, it’s all the government’s doing.
“But Mr Fenech believes that it’s everyone’s fault but his – it’s as though he almost blamed us for it,” Dr Muscat said.
He mocked Mr Fenech’s statement that not increasing water and electricity rates had led to the recession.
“So we can argue that the economy was growing when the rates were increased.”
The rise in utility rates had broken small and medium businesses, reducing their competitiveness, he said, reiterating a promise that a Labour government would reduce the rates.
Turning to his visit, Dr Muscat said discussions were going to be held with Tecom, the Dubai-based firm behind the Smart City project, to discuss its future and “their version of how they are seeing this development”.
More than 5,000 jobs should have been created by now and “we want to see exactly what is going on”.
A Labour government would work to implement the promises of new jobs that were not kept.
Discussions would also be held about developments at Go, which, although a private company, was essential for Malta.
The Nationalist Party said Dr Muscat should come up with serious and concrete proposals for work, education and health instead of empty and partisan speeches.