Labour Leader Joseph Muscat said he was open to discuss “an adequate pay for a minister”, but insisted the way the Cabinet gave itself the raise two months after the election in secrecy was unacceptable.
Speaking during a party activity yesterday, Dr Muscat said he had reservations about the timing of the decision, taken “when Gonzi sounded like the weatherman, speaking of oncoming storms and waves” for the local economy.
“Yes, let’s discuss what an adequate pay for a minister is, but not underhandedly, not in a way that we came to know of the decision two and a half years after it was taken,” Dr Muscat said, accusing the government of losing its credibility when it spoke of making sacrifices due to the economic situation.
The pay rise for ministers, the Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition was revealed after a Labour MP raised the question in Parliament.
Last week, the Labour leader declared he would not be accepting the raise, which would have seen his pockets fatten by €120,000 by the end of this legislature.
“My wife and I spoke a bit about whether we should accept it or not, and there was little discussion to be done. If we wanted money, we’d be in business,” Dr Muscat said.
He added that the rise in MP salaries was a “different issue”, because while some MPs still could keep their profession and earn money, other MPs could not advance their career because of their political work.
“I was also asked whether I get paid from the party for being its leader. The answer is I don’t,” Dr Muscat said.
In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said Labour MPs had known of the rise in the honoraria for a long time, even though whip Joe Mizzi and Dr Muscat said they knew nothing about it.
The PN also said that Dr Muscat did not mention his honoraria of €51,323 a year apart from free internet, telephone and a driver, and €7,000 tax free.
Meanwhile, the Labour party questioned the government’s reasons for not announcing the rise in National Insurance contributions as of next year, saying it was “amazing how the government is saying that this is a positive measure while not announcing it in the Budget or in a press conference”.