Prime Minister lashes out at Simon Busuttil’s ‘double standards’

Gabriel Schembri Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday evening in Mosta lashed out at the leader of the Opposition for what he believes to be double standards with regard to political action against his deputy leader, Beppe Fenech Adami.

Dr Muscat noted that in seven days’s time, the public will have to decide whether they want to join him or not. He said that the Labour Party had accomplished 90% of the promised manifesto. Dr Muscat said that the manifesto was the real roadmap, a first in Maltese politics.

“Under the previous administration, the country was not experiencing surplus and families were not being helped financially. Even companies were starting to leave the country. A problem after another, and we took the decision to change things around.”

He said that before the 2013 election, the PN was trying to warn that Malta will be next to fail after Cyprus. “But they now fail to mention that we were never in such a situation.”

Dr Muscat said that a couple of newspaper front pages have failed to damage Malta’s reputation. “We took very difficult and courageous decisions. It was not easy at times. We had every excuse to throw away our manifesto. We could have said that we don’t have the finances to deliver. But instead, we kept on going and delivered the promises, one after the other.”

Addressing the crowd gathered in Mosta, the Prime Minister said that the PN administration never tackled issues related to debt and deficit. “The EU used to give them a whole list of things to do, but they would simply ignore it. There were 14 EU countries which had to tackle corruption. Malta was not one of them.”

“We performed so well, even without increasing taxes,” he said.

“Can you imagine Beppe Fenech Adami preparing the budget instead of Edward Scicluna?” he said while saying that he is surrounded by the best people.

In his speech, the PM reiterated the call for everyone to vote, otherwise the economic success will come crashing down. “We inherited the biggest deficit in Maltese history. Debt and failed companies, that’s what we inherited.” He said the government rolled up its sleeve and worked for a surplus. Dr Muscat said that the registered surplus will not be a one-off thing.

Dr Muscat said that although he may not be perfect, he admits his mistakes. But all the Opposition speaks about is corruption. “Simon Busuttil has ordered the issuing of fake invoices. This is money laundering. I am accusing you here, publicly.”

He said that he took “harsh” political decisions, referring to Konrad Mizzi among others.

“I would want to stay silent, but I simply cannot. Simon Busuttil is a hypocrite. I told him very clearly, that his deputy leader is being investigated on money gained from money laundering, linked to drug trafficking. But he is not willing to take action, because he is a leader of double standards.”