Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said this morning that the achievements of the government in its first two years had surprised many people, who had only dreamed of what could be achieved.

Speaking at a press conference to mark two years since the general election, Dr Muscat said a situation of stagnation had been turned around into one of optimism for the future. 

Dr Muscat highlighted how the government had kept its promise to reduce water and electricity rates for domestic users by 25%. The second part of that promise would be honoured this month when bills for businesses would be cut by a similar amount. The government had also kept its promise to close Marsa power station and was going ahead with its plans to build a new gas-fired power station, while converting the BWSC plant to gas.

The work on the interconnector was now on track after having fallen back under the former government.

The reduction in electricity tariffs, he said, was one of the factors which had seen the economy grow and unemployment fall to its lowest levels ever.

Another factor which had helped the economy and boosted employment was free childcare, which encouraged many women to go out to work.

The government had inherited a stagnant economy and turned it around into a fast growing economy looking to the future with optimism.

It had made it easier for first time buyers to buy a property by reducing stamp duty.

Dr Muscat defended the Citizenship by Investment Scheme saying it served to attract high net worth people to Malta. The benefits of such a scheme could be seen from the fact that other countries were copying Malta. 

He also highlighted progress in the social sector including the introduction of same-sex partnerships and removal of discrimination against trans-gender persons. The civil partnership law and the Gender Identity Bill were the most progressive legislation int he EU, he said. 

Similarly, he said, the government would legislate on organ donation, decriminalisation of drugs. It had also reduced the voting age for local councils to 16.

In the health sector, the government had practically eliminated the problem of out of stock medicines. It had brought down waiting lists for operations in a number of areas and was working to change systems to ease hospital overcrowding. A new block was also being built at Mater Dei Hospital, providing more beds.

Dr Muscat said public-private partnerships would be the foundation for economic growth. Among the biggest examples was the building of the new power station, and the development of the former shipbuilding yard, about which talks were currently in hand. Talks with private partners were also being held in the health sector, including health clinics and medical tourism.

On criticism over standards of governance, Dr Muscat said he would admit that the governemnt had possibly, in its enthusiasm, acted too fast in some areas. However there was also an issue of excessive procedures which needed to be updated, he said.