I think it is safe for me to presume that just like me, your jaw dropped when you heard about the €600/week pay rise that our Ministers generously awarded themselves.
It’s probably also safe to assume, that in this economic climate, even the MPs themselves are in disbelief that it actually went through!
An increase of €600/week is so incredibly arrogant, (even for the PN), that the first time I read about it, I was convinced that the story had been contrived. I kept hoping, and waited for several media to report the matter, but to my disgust, there was no mistake.
These guys have lulled themselves into a false sense of competence and awarded themselves accordingly. How amazingly convenient! Contrary to what you might expect, I’m not entirely against our politicians getting a raise. 2010 was after all The European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, and we wouldn’t want our country’s leaders to fall victim of such unfortunate circumstances now would we?
But €600 a week?
What bewilders me the most is not even the conceitedness of such a decision during such a time because at this point, no level of political egotism can surprise me, but how was it possible that in a world of instant news, a decision taken two years ago, only hit the headlines now?
How is it that the general public, only got to know about this shameful move, when the leader of the Opposition (in his best PR move yet), announced his refusal of the pay rise? A few parliamentarians are claiming not to have known about it either, and as dubious as this may sound, because of the kind of wraps that this seems to have been kept under, I’m leaning towards believing them.
Clearly, the government was banking on the opposition not objecting to its decision. It figured that since it would be putting significantly more money in everyone’s pockets, the Opposition would not complain. Did it not cross their little mind that gaining credibility, shaming the government, and winning the next election, is by far more important to the Leader of the Opposition than instant money in his pocket?
Of course Muscat is also a politician, and his motives are definitely not all saintly, but one thing is for sure - he’s on less potent cough syrup than that which Tonio Fenech and the Prime Minister must be on. Why is Gonzi PN so adamant in strengthening its well-established spindrift reputation?
So, whilst members of parliament in the Czech Republic agreed to reduce their salaries by 5% at least until 2014, our altruistic politicians voted to give themselves a generous salary increase that will cost tax payers an additional four million Euro a year.
They did this when those in most need, (those whom the government pledged to have as his number one priority), got a meagre €1.16/week – 0.17c a day, (less than the cost of a loaf of bread).
The government also went back on its electoral promise to continue to subsidize the surcharge on electricity, and, it is still holding back on its promise to reduce the tax percentage ceiling from 35% to 25%, most likely planning to use it as the golden carrot at the eve of the next election.
I’m aware that a moral politician is as rare as an honest burglar, but I never thought that the PN would be caught with their pants down like this. It’s almost like they purposely framed themselves to come across as stupid selfish and arrogant brats. When it comes to the awarding the ‘worse PR move Oscar’ for 2010, the only other serious contestant is the Church, who, with almost €5 million of cash in hand, 70 parishes and €6 million in APS profits, claimed to be in a financial crisis, and begged the faithful for more donations!
Puhlleeease!
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