Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning that PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami displayed political hypocrisy when he protested over ODZ development in Zonqor, which would benefit the whole country, but then he had allowed illegalities on his own property at the 'Gharghur Palace'.
Addressing a crown at Dingli Labour Party Club, Dr Muscat said Opposition leader Simon Busuttil had promised high standards in public life, but had done nothing regarding the Fenech Adami case.
Dr Fenech Adamai had benefited from a re-drawing of development boundaries by the PN in 2006 and then the PN government approved an exception to allow him to increase the floors of his residence despite a Cabinet decision to freeze height limitations in that area of Gharghur.
His property, he said, included several illegalities which could not be sanctioned by Mepa.
"If I had a situation like Fenech Adami's the least I would do is stay silent," Dr Muscat said.
If I had a situation like Fenech Adami's the least I would do is stay silent
Turning to the rejection of Toni Abela's nomination for the European Court of Auditors, Dr Muscat said elements within the PN had worked against the nomination and played a dirty game while others had also helped him.
Dr Muscat said he was greatly disappointed by what had happened, but Dr Abela still had a lot to offer the country.
Dr Muscat said that abroad, Labour always put Malta first and when in opposition it had backed the nominations of the various nominations, including those of Joe Borg, John Dalli, Tonio Borg and Louis Galea.
Before Tonio Borg's nomination, then prime minister Lawrence Gonzi had contacted him, asking for his support, and such support was given immediately.
That was what Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox was about.
But under Simon Busuttil, attempts were made to put spokes into the wheel, including hindering foreign investment.
Dr Muscat warned against a return to tribalism in Maltese politics and said Dr Busuttil was a danger to investment, job creation, social mobility and the middle class. He accused him of trying to scare off investment and stifle wealth creation.
When he spoke on migration, Dr Muscat said that while respecting the provisions of the constitution, the Maltese government would continue to work for stability in Libya and an end to the migration crisis. It would do so by trying to get all the parties in the Libya issue together.
Early in his speech Dr Muscat hailed the recently announced economic growth rate of 6.2% saying that under this government, GDP growth was almost three times that of the former administration.
He said this was the fruit of government policies, including its pro-business stance.
The government was open for business with everyone, because economic growth benefited everyone, he said. One could not distribute wealth unless wealth was created, he said.
He warned, however, against poor working conditions, particularly in the hotels industry, saying it was not an excuse that foreigners were employed instead of Maltese because the foreigners were paid less. This would undermine social erosion, he said.
He said he could promise the people a positive had working government, while somebody else was mired in negativity.