‘A beautiful day for the country,’ says Muscat on reaching deficit target

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat makes a pitch for co-education and banding systems during Tarxien political activity.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressing the party faithful in Tarxien (Photo: Ray Attard)
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat addressing the party faithful in Tarxien (Photo: Ray Attard)
Labour MEP candidate and MP Deborah Schembri (Photo: Ray Attard)
Labour MEP candidate and MP Deborah Schembri (Photo: Ray Attard)
PL MEP candidate Mario Farrugia Borg (Photo: Ray Attard)
PL MEP candidate Mario Farrugia Borg (Photo: Ray Attard)
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo (Photo: Ray Attard)
Education Minister Evarist Bartolo (Photo: Ray Attard)

Wednesday was “a beautiful day for the country” after the European Union confirmed that Malta's deficit has gone below the 3% of GDP deficit threshold in 2013.

Addressing a political activity, a beaming Joseph Muscat told the party faithful gathered in Tarxien that the 2.8% deficit target was met without increasing taxes while utility tariffs were reduced.

“According to others, today I should be standing here informing you that we would be seeking a bailout. Instead, the European Union declared Malta has reduced its deficit. And we achieved this without increasing taxes and reduced income tax and utility tariffs,” the Labour leader said.

“What credentials does Simon Busuttil have when, contrary to what he used to say, all these crucial things were implemented?”

Muscat also said that Malta last year registered a 2.4% economic growth, twice that forecasted and four times the economic growth achieved by the Nationalist Party during its last year in government.

He insisted that during its deficit talks with the European Union, the government had a tough time in convincing the Commission that the deficit target would be met.

“It was an issue of credibility where the EU was used to Malta saying one thing and then doing another. But we assured them the deficit would be brought down, and our pledge was maintained,” Muscat said.

Rebutting statements by the Opposition that youth unemployment was on the rise, Muscat said the rate of youth unemployment decreased by 0.5% in 2013.

The rate of unemployment in 2008 was of 12% rising to 14% in 2012, he added.

Making a pitch for co-education and the banding system in education, Muscat said his own twin daughters attended a co-ed school.

“We cannot go on with segregation and I believe this is the best reform for our children. Banding will also help teachers with providing further support to students, concentrating on their abilities.”

He added that a ‘Malta for all’ – the 2013 electoral cry – meant that the government provided for those students who were a success but also for those students who failed in their educational experience.

Muscat said the government will provide youths with the necessary opportunities to become employable and find jobs.

The political activity was also addressed by Education Minister Evarist Bartolo and MEP candidates Mario Farrugia Borg and Deborah Schembri.

Schembri, also a government MP, took the Opposition to task after pulling out the abortion card. In a clear pitch to disgruntled voters, Schembri said individual cases will be tackled, but first the government had to implement those projects which benefited the nation.

“Remember that this party has been in government for only a year and our programme is based on five years. You cannot also forget why Labour was elected. The PN was not given a yellow card but a red card because people wanted a clear change in politics.

“You can feel the change in direction, but this change doesn’t come by the politicians on their own. We need you to give us the courage,” she said.