Muscat says Labour ‘has nothing to hide’ over party financing

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has once again made it a point to tell party supporters that if in government, Labour will enact a party financing law to regulate donations to political parties.

"If there is someone who's trying to scare people against us is the same person who used to brand businesspeople 'thieves'... probably in cozying up to the few businessmen he has a hold on," Muscat said in a reference to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and insisting that Labour regarded businesses as "essential partners to create jobs".

Muscat then paused, smiled and commented: "I think it's cute that the prime minister says he will publish how much his election campaign cost. What's the big deal?"

He said that Labour has been publishing its financial accounts for years now. "This morning, I told journalists that it would be better for him to publish all accounts since he has been Prime Minister," Muscat said.

While the Labour Party says it publishes its companies' audited accounts, neither party has ever declared the origins of its sources of funding, or names of its major individual donors.

He then turned his attention towards PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil. "Simon is fending off questions regarding the PN's finances by insisting that he has only been recently elected deputy leader. This one's good... because they keep up asking about things which happened 50 years ago," he said, generating even more applause.

In a reference to MaltaToday reports that PN donor Nazzareno Vassallo had credited the PN with €350,000 in services for the electoral campaign, Muscat said Labour had nothing to hide. "Nobody gave us a credit note for €350,000," Muscat said.

To raucous applause, Muscat also spoke about the PL proposals for Gozo, insisting that a new generation will be able to choose - and not be forced - to find work in Malta instead of Gozo.

"Those Maltese, those Gozitans and those foreigners who want to invest here to create more jobs here will receive incentives," he said.

Muscat reiterated that a Labour government would work to ensure that Gozo remains benefiting from the EU funds it has enjoyed so far and work to receive more.

"The bigger opportunities will be given to the private sector because we want to work businesses," he said, as he listed the different tax credits and refunds a Labour government was committed to grant, if elected.

The PL's proposal for the provision of a taxi service between Gozo and Valletta, set to impact some 3,000 Gozitans, was also welcomed by the sizeable crowd which gathered at the Qala square.

The biggest project which would be carried out in the coming five years was the cruise passenger terminal making it possible for Gozo to benefit from an influx of tourists, he said.  "This means that young Gozitans can once again start seeing their future in tourism," Muscat said, generating approval from the Gozitans.

He said that the plan was not to divert cruise liners from Malta to Gozo but providing a package where tourists could visit both islands.