Muscat challenges government to present budget

The Opposition is challenging government to go ahead with its declared plan to present the Budget despite the political turmoil Lawrence Gonzi is facing from within his backbench.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat today said Labour will not table a no-confidence motion in government, but will instead wait for the government to present the 2013 Budget.

The budget is a money bill and if government fails to muster a majority in favour of any such bill, the President of the Republic will have to intervene and the most likely outcome will be the dissolution of Parliament and elections will be announced.

So far, Nationalist MP Franco Debono is threatening not to vote for the Budget if transport minister Austin Gatt does not resign his Cabinet position.

In the wake of yesterday's protracted decision by the Speaker on the Opposition's request to discuss Debono's motion of no-confidence against transport minister Austin Gatt, and another Opposition motion calling for the repeal of the privitisation of public car parks, Muscat said his party respected the Speaker's ruling, although it did not necessarily agree with it.

"Unlike the PN, Labour will not attack Speaker Michael Frendo for his ruling in the same way the PN attacked the Broadcasting Authority in recent weeks. We are not here to hinder government but to do our work which we are doing well and within the rules of the game," Muscat said.

Muscat challenged the government to go ahead with its plan to present the budget and "shoulder the responsibility."

"The government is responsible for creating tension in the country. If the government is stable then it will go ahead without any problems," he added.

The PL leader added that a new Labour government will update the rules of Parliament. Muscat explained that yesterday's ruling "confirms that Parliament's rules are outdated and calls for a much-needed reform."

He stressed that a Labour government will respect its commitment to call a Constitutional Convention to kick-off the process to create the Second Republic.