PD ‘instrumental’ in PN manifesto Marlene Farrugia
The Democratic Party (PD) was ‘instrumental’ in formulating the upcoming Nationalist Party manifesto, particularly in the areas of social justice, economic sustainability, the environment, and good governance, party leader Marlene Farrugia told The Malta Independent yesterday.
Speaking at a press conference in Valletta, she maintained that this followed the conditions set out in the coalition agreement and emphasised that the manifesto was built on consensus.
Dr Farrugia said that a PN/PD government will take stock of the financial situation, and that the manifesto reflects is the direction the coalition wishes to follow.
“There are so many blanked-out contracts, we have no idea how much money has come in from the citizenship scheme.”
She stressed that communication with the public will be an essential part of government if the coalition is elected, and it will also help form the direction taken by the coalition.
The Democratic Party press conference was held in front of the Knot monument in Castille Place, which Dr Farrugia said represented the confusion in the minds of the population.
Taking a dig at the Labour Party’s tag line ‘coalition of confusion’, Dr Farrugia said that Prime Minister Muscat was forced to call an early election due to the “confusion of his corruption.”
Dr Farrugia criticised Dr Muscat for calling an election at a time of supposed stability during the EU presidency.
“Instead of choosing stability for the EU presidency, or for the many students preparing for exams, he chose to protect his clique in Castille.”
She said that the Democratic Party was born out of a crisis of governance.
“For Joseph Muscat and the issue of bad governance, Panama is just the cherry on the cake. We saw blanked-out contracts; our public hospitals and our citizenship being sold. He said that he took action over Panama, but we still see Projects Malta in the same hands of the Panama group. We came together to form a party that can appeal to the electorate, to show them that they really do have a choice. A real choice for a new, alternative government.”
Taking questions, Dr Farrugia clarified that while she was against spring hunting in the referendum, she respects the democratic process and accepts the result.
On the racetrack, she assured voters that she will not allow it to happen if it is on ODZ land or if it affects any residents negatively.
Dr Farrugia also addressed the allegations that former Minister George Pullicino had altered environmental laws to accommodate BWSC’s bid. She said that the allegations were not new, and nothing was found to imply any wrongdoing.