Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said this morning that the prime minister had set a new benchmark for tomorrow's confidence vote in parliament, having indicated that he would not accept abstentions or contrary votes. The Opposition would hold Dr Gonzi accountable for this benchmark not just tomorrow but on other votes in parliament as well.
Speaking at Sta Lucija this morning, Dr Muscat also said that Labour disagreed with the European Union's call for Malta to further raise the retirement age.
He said that the government was being silent on the matter because it had already signed up to the EU's plans.
However Labour believed that raising the retirement age was not a solution for the current problems. The key, he said, was economic growth and the generation of wealth which would benefit everyone, and not a select circle of people.
In his address, Dr Muscat laid stressed on Labour's social justice proposals, revealed on Friday.
He reiterated that a Labour government would provide small homes in various localities where people with disabilities could be cared for after their parents passed away. This, he said, would be a partnership with the private sector and volunteers.
Furthermore, major government decisions would be subjected to a social impact assessment.
Referring to Wednesday's events in Parliament, Dr Muscat said that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was in denial and was not facing reality. He wanted to plod on even though the government had repeatedly been shown not to have a parliamentary majority.
Dr Gonzi needed to adjust his priorities and face reality, Dr Muscat said. Malta needed a government which was focused on its needs, and not on the needs of the government's own survival.
He said the Opposition would hold the prime minister to account after he showed in comments (to The Sunday Times) that he would not accept abstentions or contrary votes in tomorrow's vote of confidence. This, he said, was a new benchmark which Dr Gonzi had set himself.
Dr Muscat also argued that Dr Gonzi had treated his ministers differently. When a no-confidence motion was moved against Austin Gatt last November, he protected him, using the concept of collective responsibility. No such collective responsibility was invoked for Carm Mifsud Bonnici.