Alternattiva Demokratika said today that the social partners should lead a national protest on the new utility tariffs.

Party leader Arnold Cassola in a statement said that despite the call for consultation and dialogue, the Maltese government had decided to carry on "pigheadedly" with its tariff increases, oblivious of the fact that such an indiscriminate and backdated steep rise in tariffs was going to produce a snowball effect on the economy, damaging workers, families, employers and entrepreurs alike.

"The tariffs proposed by government are unreasonable and will cause a social and economic upheaval in our country," Prof Cassola said.

""This is really a moment of social and economic crisis that will impact negatively on the quality of life of all Maltese and Gozitans. The social partners, including trade unions and employers, should take the lead in announcing a national protest against the brusque way in which government has imposed these new tariffs. We at Alternattiva Demokratika are ready to follow. This government cannot expect to solve decades of neglect of its own doing, in a few weeks."