Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil crossed swords on domestic issues but did not touch European affairs in their final debate ahead of Saturday’s European Parliament elections this evening.
Dr Muscat harped on his government’s achievements: economic growth, a deficit reduced below three per cent and job creation.
He gave reasons why voters should choose the Labour Party candidates: the reduction of electricity tariffs, petrol and income tax, free childcare and improved stipends.
The Prime Minister insisted he was not afraid to stand for judgement by the people, adding that people had a clear choice between the Opposition’s “negativity” and the government’s “positive energy”. He also said the electorate had a choice between Dr Busuttil and himself.
On the flip side, Dr Busuttil accused the government of lacking transparency and meritocracy. He said Dr Muscat was more interested in creating jobs for the inner core.
He started the debate by asking the Prime Minister a series of questions, including why the administration had introduced political discrimination in the distribution of free medicines.
Dr Muscat rebutted the accusation about the medicines quoting from a transcript of an interview with the pharmacist who had originally made the claim, saying that she had never used the words “political discrimination”.
Dr Busuttil then produced the packaging of a gauze worth €65 that a pensioner was asked to buy by the hospital because it was out of stock.
The Prime Minister took umbrage at Dr Busuttil’s criticism, insisting the hospital’s tendering system for medicines was run by the Opposition leader’s cousin.
The Opposition leader was not miffed. He insisted that it was the Opposition’s duty to expose the government’s failings even if it was branded negative by Dr Muscat.
Dr Busuttil also asked why the government failed to publish the contract with Henley and Partners, the company entrusted to run the citizenship scheme. Were there any links between Henley and the PL?
Dr Muscat hit back, saying the only people benefiting from the citizenship scheme were PN exponents. He said a Nationalist MP gave the company a testimonial, another MP was legally involved with the company that lost the citizenship tender and PN president Anne Fenech’s legal firm had obtained a licence to act as an agent for Henley.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that the government made mistakes. “We are not perfect but we delivered on our pledges,” he said, adding that the government had already implemented a third of its manifesto.
Responding to Dr Busuttil’s criticism on the gas tanker that will be anchored in Marsaxlokk bay – as a storage facility for the new gas power station – the Prime Minister said the project would deliver cleaner air.
In the second half of the debate, the two leaders were joined by Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola, who portioned out criticism in equal doses to both sides.
“We will not say one thing in Malta and another in Europe as the others do,” he said, accusing the PN and PL of paying lip service to the fight against tax evasion when their MEPs voted against a resolution calling for harsher rules against tax evaders.
Prof. Cassola said Dr Busuttil had “pigged out a bit” by taking a number of direct orders under the previous administration, even if he was within the law. “But this does not justify Dr Muscat paying his wife’s business partner in the US to act as an envoy for the tourism authority,” Prof. Cassola added.