Busuttil blasts 'incompetent' government for allowing EU to cut financial incentives

PN leader blasts government's "gross incompetence" after European Commission instructs Malta to reduce financial incentives for industrial investment; claims Muscat is consistently choosing the wrong path.

The European Commission has instructed the Maltese government to cut its financial incentives for industrial investment – a decision which has highlighted the government’s “gross incompetence” and its inability to negotiate, PN leader Simon Busuttil said today.

Busuttil said that in its decision on May 7, the European Commission ordered Malta to reduce its financial incentives, but despite the severity of the decision, Busuttil said, "Joseph Muscat hid the Commission's decision."

“Despite the adverse effects that this decision is set to impose on Malta’s economy and its jobs, the prime minister has kept it hidden.”

“In accepting the European Commission’s decision, the government has shown gross incompetence in negotiating. Joseph Muscat does not know how the EU works, which inability will be detrimental to the country and its potential to create jobs in Malta and Gozo,” he said.

Addressing a political rally in Victoria, Busuttil called on the prime minister to shoulder the political responsibility for accepting this decision.

The PN leader argued that during its 14 months, the prime minister has consistently chosen the wrong decision.

“Time and time again, the prime minister is choosing the wrong decision. There is a huge difference between what Joseph Muscat pledged in the run-up to the general election and what the government actually implemented,” he said.

The Opposition leader insisted that the prime minister’s “championing” of Cyrus Engerer “as a hero and soldier of steel,” highlighted Muscat’s “deceit and that anything goes under this government."

Hitting at Joseph Muscat, Busuttil insisted that the Labour Party has “taken the country backwards.”

“People are undoubtedly disappointed at this government’s performance. They expected something better from this government but in reality, they have received the short end of the stick. Unemployment is increasing on a monthly basis,” he said.

Taking umbrage at the government’s treatment of its “inner circles”, Busuttil insisted that the government is carrying out political discrimination against anyone who is not part of the elite Labour core, even other Labourites.

“This discrimination is not just prevalent in the health sector, but it is also rampant within he civil service. Rightly so, the country is not just disappointed at the government, but also disgusted,” he argued.

Reiterating claims of political favouritism within the Pharmacy of Your Choice scheme, the PN leader that this government is more interested in spending the state’s money on its inner circles, rather than on the people.

A week away from the election, Busuttil insisted that the PN could not overturn its 36,000-vote deficit in one year, claiming that the party has a mountain to climb.

Urging the PN faithful to vote, and to remain united, Busuttil nevertheless expressed his confidence in the PN electing three MEPs for the first time.