Adrian Delia claimed on Friday that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had admitted that the government was robbing people over the procurement of electricity from the new Electrogas power plant.
“With his back to the wall, Dr Muscat this morning admitted that the government is robbing people. He admitted that people were not being robbed €200 million in a year, but over two years,” the PN leader said on Friday.
Questioned by the media over the NAO report on the Electrogas deal, Dr Muscat on Friday noted that according to criticism levelled by the Opposition, the country was forking an extra €200 million over corruption.
However, in following the Opposition’s own calculations, the PN had made a discrepancy of more than a €100 million, he said.
The Prime Minister also noted that the National Auditor’s Office report had included the power station’s capital expenditure but omitted that of the interconnector.
Dr Muscat added that the report also did not take into consideration the fact that when the NAO did its calculations the power station was in an open cycle period, while the electricity rate for the interconnector was wrongly taken as a constant figure throughout the day, even though the cost would fluctuate according to the time of day.
However, Dr Delia called Dr Muscat’s “admission” surreal, adding that comments by legal consultant to the Prime Minister Robert Abela’s about the report, which was published on Wednesday, were diametrically opposed to the Auditor General’s comments.
He also described as surreal Minister Konrad Mizzi’s “boasting” that the new power station was an example of best practice.
“The labour government is guaranteeing that we will continue to be robbed – we were robbed over the Vitals deal, the promised building of the American University of Malta, and the purchase of gas,” he said.
Dr Delia insisted it was clear that over the past few days the political scenario had changed drastically in Malta.
“The Prime Minister who is unfortunately hostage of two people who are stopping him from asking for Keith Schembri’s and Dr Mizzi’s resignation…
“What would we have done with a €100 million a year for those on the housing waiting list, pensioners, those at risk of poverty, those whose medicine is not provided for free, youths who cannot continue to study but have to work to keep up with rents? The Prime Minister is not only insulting people’s intelligence, and not saying the truth, but has lost control over the government,” Dr Delia said.
Labour Party reacts
After the Prime Minister revealed the PN leader's amateurish calculations, Dr Delia tried to desperately redeem himself, the PL said in a statement.
Dr Delia interpreted the Prime Minister's comments as an admission, however, people know that Dr Muscat provided people with nearly €100 million through cheaper energy bills.
"This was only possible as a result of the new power station, which according to the Auditor General was a needed project that followed a transparent process."