Prime Minister takes aim at PN for walking out of Parliament
Prime Minister Robert Abela yesterday took aim at the Nationalist Party for walking out of Parliament on Tuesday last week, calling the PN ‘arrogant’.
The Nationalist party had stormed out of Parliament on Tuesday after a motion tabled by the PN asking for an urgent debate on Air Malta was refused by Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia. Opposition Leader Bernard Grech then stood up and said that it is sad to see that Parliament does not want to discuss urgent matters, just like on Monday when Farrugia had refused the PN’s motion to discuss the call for a public inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia. As a result, Grech said that the PN “will not participate in today’s Parliamentary sitting”, and the PN MPs had then walked out. During an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Grech said that the discussion didn’t take place “as the government didn’t accept.”
Speaking during a political activity on Sunday, Abela said that while the Labour Party goes to Parliament to propose laws which make a difference in people’s lives, the Opposition was very arrogant in the way that it stormed out of parliament when there was a discussion on a prevention of domestic violence bill.
“We go to Parliament to propose laws, while others are there only to talk themselves. If they can’t, they leave. How can you be more arrogant than that?”, Abela said.
Abela accused the PN of being an “Opposition of press releases”, which only talks, but does not act.
He said that the Opposition is not truly in favour of workers, saying that up until this week, the Opposition had said that the government’s aid on energy, electricity and water bills should stop.
“That is what the Opposition wants to protest against? That we are helping the public?”, Abela said, whilst adding that on 1 May, Workers Day, the PL will have the chance to send a strong message in favour of aid given to the public. He said that the government will continue helping families in the face of the higher cost of living.
Abela said that the government must serve as a shoulder for workers and businesses, and not impose unnecessary burdens on people.
He said that the PN is lost in political gimmicks and attacks, whereas the government has invested in the future and the quality of life of the people and the workers, while remaining focused on moving forward.
“Results are achieved when, in the face of a crisis, you stand with workers and businesses. Results are not acquired through attacks”, he said.
Abela said that workers have spoken to him thanking him for the opportunities that the government has created for them, in all sectors, such as the manufacturing industry.
He said that despite all the aid, the government is still reaching above and beyond its aims in budgetary measures, with the national debt also decreasing in the past years.
Abela said that the President of the Central Bank said that Malta has an extraordinary rate of economic growth, which he said is positively changing the lives of the people.
He continued that the rate of people not finding work in the country has decreased by 40%, and that the country’s workforce is seeing more diversity and inclusivity, as more people with disabilities are registering for work.
“We want to give dignity and financial independence to everyone”, Abela continued.
He said that more reforms are underway, mentioning the recent reform introduced by the Justice Ministry for the compilation of evidence in courts, capping the time limit to one year.
Abela said that this reform will reduce unnecessary delays and strengthen the justice system, whilst encouraging the public to participate in the public consultation process, so as to continue to reduce the suffering caused by delays in the judicial process.
He said that the reform will likely find resistance by the Opposition, who “will oppose the reform.” Abela continued that the PL is a reformist movement.
Abela also spoke about government providing more resources to the Police force, as well as improving the standards by introducing the process of licensing of building contractors.
Abela further stated that the government will continue with environmental initiatives, as well as remaining the party for youth.
Robert Abela is cut off from reality, PN says
The PN issued a statement on Sunday saying that Prime Minister Robert Abela chose to make a partisan speech in a PL political event in Rabat, showing that he is cut off from the reality that people face.
“How can Robert Abela ever be believed when he says he leads a Workers’ Party, when after a week he has failed to reassure all those whose livelihoods depend on Air Malta?”, the PN asked.
The PN accused Abela of failing to address the problems that Maltese and Gozitan people are facing.
It said that Abela preferred to give millions to Steward and Vitals, instead of investing in workers employed in the health sector.
The PN also said that Abela cannot be believed, as he is still refusing to hold a Public Inquiry into the workplace death of Jean Paul Sofia.
“Robert Abela constantly defends those who are close to him, instead of representing those whom he has a duty to represent”, the PN said.
The Nationalist Party reiterated that Abela should stop his and his friends’ pigging out, and instead, use that money to help the Maltese and the Gozitan people.