PM does not directly address recent criticism
A sea of people turned up to yesterday’s Workers’ Day mass meeting held at Triton Square, right outside Valletta’s main entrance, as Prime Minister Joesph Muscat announced an upcoming public consultation on rent market proposals and a 500-unit social housing project.
Prime Minister Muscat did not use the occasion, however, to directly address the recent spate of criticism and allegations which emerged from the Daphne Project as well as controversial statements by the V18 top men, only addressing such criticism through vague, general statements.
The government has recently come under fire on a number of fronts, including through the recent Daphne Project revelations regarding OPM chief of staff Keith Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, the controversy surrounding statements made by V18s top men, which have resulted in international condemnation, and recent criticism regarding the investigation into the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
While these were not directly addressed, the prime minister did address the allegations regarding Egrant and his family.
He said that a year ago he had faced the “largest political lie in the country’s history against him and his family. Till now they haven’t substantiated a single word against me, despite me asking for an inquiry.” He reiterated that if a word of what was alleged against him was true he would step down.
He stressed the need for unity in the country, saying that there were those who wanted to ‘damage’ the country. “We must unite,” he said. “Others want division, we will give unity. Others want hatred, we will give love.”
His major announcement of the day concerned rents and social housing. He said that in the coming weeks, the government would be issuing rent regulation proposals for public consultation
He mentioned the 630 social housing units currently being developed by government, but also announced a fresh new investment. He said that he had asked the national fund for social development (that manages the funds from the IIP scheme) to give another €50 million to create another 500 social housing units for those in need.
He said that this development meant the creation of the largest social housing project of our time.
He mentioned that many Maltese owned their properties, thus meaning that rising property value was good for them, but on the other side of the coin, it was becoming harder for people to purchase property, and rents were rising.
This is why, he said, the need for more social housing and rent market regulation was being felt. He said these were two different realities yet do merge. He said that his would be the first government to have the ‘courage’ to introduce measures regulating the rent market.
He stressed that the government would not propose things not seen in other countries. “But the time has come to create more stability in prices and certainty in the market.” He said that at the same time, the government wanted to give new rights and duties to land owners.
He spoke of respecting the market while giving the market guidance.
He said that in a few weeks a public consultation to create this social justice would occur. He said that “the proposals we will put forward will be one aimed at creating balance and social justice.”
He spoke about positive results, and pension increases.
Turning to IVF regulation, he said that the government was the voice of those men who wanted to become a father and women who want to become mothers. and the voice of children fortunate enough to be born to parents who were ready to go through suffering to give them life.
He said that in the past he had been ready to be a voice for the minority, and was ready to do that again, stressing that he was confident that he is not being left alone.
Prior to his speech, the DJ was heard saying over the microphone: “This is our response, a response of support.” Critics had said that the government could try to use this meeting as a way of rebutting criticism. The DJ also said: “Today we show Europe and the world that Malta is strong under Joseph Muscat’s leadership.”
The DJ also announced that a film about ten years under Joseph Muscat's leadership (as opposition leader and prime minister) would soon be released, and played a trailer.