Muscat urges Gonzi to avert Christmas election

Speaking during a political activity in Xgharja, Labour Leader Joseph Muscat urged Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to cease "putting the party before the country" and risk exposing the critical Christmas season to an election campaign.

Muscat's comments come in the wake of persistent speculation that Gonzi plans to count on Rogue Nationalist MP Franco Debono's insubordination in voting against the November budget.

Many speculate that such a move would both afford the PN a credible reason for an early election, as well as the grant the party a boost in the polls by means of the sympathy vote.

In his address, Muscat stressed that Christmas period represents the most sensitive time for businesses, adding that many of these look towards December as the season which can either make or break their yearly performance.

Muscat said that despite this, "the government, unofficially or not, has decided that instead of reassuring people and businesses during this critical time of the year, it intends to bring about the uncertainty of an electoral campaign."

"Government is still in time to avoid this situation," Muscat said. "However, it seems it is committed to play the political game."

Appealing to Gonzi to be "responsible" and noting that a prime Minister has "a duty to present a budget," Muscat called on Gonzi to "not allow a situation where the country kicks off 2013 without a budget."

Muscat said that such a situation would bring about uncertainty that would engender businesses and jobs but insisted that Gonzi had ample time to weigh his options and avert such a situation.

"Gonzi has had all his options laid out before him for almost a full year. He knew of this eventuality, and despite this, the only concrete decision he made was to keep clinging to power," Muscat said.

He accused the Nationalist Government of playing a "political game that is endangering the stability of the country."

Muscat noted that Gonzi has already declared the budget to be "a vote of confidence," adding that "he cannot turn to us for support because we have already said that we have no faith in this prime minister and his government."

Referring to the St. Philip's Hospital acquisition deal which Government has opposed exposing to parliamentary scrutiny and debate, Muscat accused Gonzi of not respecting the rules of democracy and ignoring the will of parliament as the highest democratically-elected body of the country.

"There is a clear parliamentary majority regarding the St. Philip's hospital acquisition deal on the need that the deal be discussed with urgency in parliament," Muscat said, referring to Franco Debono and Jeffrey Pullicino Orland's opposition to the deal.

He noted that government is also facing "a clear motion on the issue," but noted that "instead of listening to the people's representatives, [Gonzi] arrogantly decide to forge ahead with the contract."

Muscat also took the opportunity to call for an "update and modernisation of the rules of parliament."

He pointed to the discrepancy regarding how certain petty issues like the passing of ownership of a room in a band club from government to the band club required the convening of parliament and the approval of a committee.

"At the same time, a deal that will cost the taxpayer at least €12 million is treated as if nothing is happening, and parliament is told to mind its own business," Muscat emphasised.

Muscat also took government to task over the its administration of the Mater Dei Hospital and the health sector as a whole. He noted that the government spent 15 years building Mater Dei, which ended up and costing the taxpayer in excess of €600 million, "more than double what it was initially said it would cost."

Muscat said that "now, five years later, Government is saying that we need a second one," and insisted that responsibility for the decisions taken that led the country into this situation "must be shouldered."

He also questioned the manner in which the deal was rushed through in a matter of days and said it would be signed "before parliament reconvenes on Monday."

"They claimed it was urgent. If it really was so urgent, how did they not see the problem coming before the eve of an election," Muscat asked.

He said that the lack of planning highlighted by the St. Philip's acquisition deal, "demolishes any credibility that Gonzi's government might have had in the health sector" and described it "as the biggest administrative and planning blunder throughout its entire legislature."

Muscat reiterated Labour's emphasis on rising social inequality due to the spiralling cost of living, reaffirmed the party's commitment to "creating a new middle class", and reinforced the latest line of attack: that Gonzi and his administration "are all talk."

During the political activity, Gozitan Labour MP Anton Refalo criticised the Nationalist Government's administration of Gozo, insisting that the government was all talk but no action, as various pledges on road repairs, education, health, and capital investment were forgotten.

"In Gozo, we have the Ministry of Favours," he said, insisting that Minister Giovanna Debono operates a web of favouritism and nepotism to garner political support. He said that a Labour Government would overturn the dilapidation that the PN allowed the island to fall into, and improve aspects such as infrastructural connectivity with Malta, education, and social services.

Reacting to Muscat's statements, the Nationalist Party accused Muscat of trying to rush the country towards a Christmas election.

"Muscat wants a Christmas election so that he can disrupt the Christmas festivities and business. He should be ashamed of himself," the PN said.

It accused Muscat of being overly negative, of playing up or exaggerating the challenges the country is facing, and of criticising constantly.

The PN reiterated that "despite Muscat's criticism, he offers no solutions. He has no ideas," and again dismissed Muscat's pledge to reduce utility bills.