Labour deputy leader insists government has delivered on meritocracy pledge

Labour's deputy leader for party affairs Toni Abela insisted on PBS's Dissett that nine months into its legislature, the Labour government was honouring its 'Malta Tagħna Lkoll' pledge of meritocracy.

Rebutting claims that the governmnet was opening the state coffers to its "inner circles and party affiliates", Abela said that all new appointees had been chosen according to their capabilities and qualifications.

"Joseph Muscat and this government is delivering on the Tagħna Lkoll electoral slogan. Appointees have not been chosen according to their political ideology but their qualifications and capabilities," Abela insisted.

Citing a recent survey by MaltaToday which found that only 36% of respondents believed that Muscat's government is honouring its promise of meritocracy, presenter and PBS head of news Reno Bugeja said that it was now up to the people to decide whether the government was actually delivering.

Abela also denied having any knowledge of the gift of a Daewoo motor vehicle to the Labour Party from John's Garage, the family business of oil trader George Farrugia, as claimed by the latter in an inquiry on oil procurement to the publica accounts committee. Farrugia turned state's evidence after being granted a presidential pardon, when MaltaToday revealed back in January 2013 that one of the companies he represented - Dutch commodities giant Trafigura - was paying an Enemalta consultant a "commission" on the supply of oil to Enemalta. The resulting criminal investigation revealed a network of bribery reaching up right to the top echelons of Enemalta management.

"In response to the allegations, I have asked people who at the time were members of the Labour Party, who have all said that they do not recall the awarding of any car. Moreover, these people can neither recall the sale of a Daewoo," Abela said.

'PN making in-roads since electoral loss' - Fenech Adami

Also hosted on Dissett was Abela's counterpart Beppe Fenech Adami said the PN had weather its financial storm and was now a self-sufficient and self-financing party. "We still have financial constraints and the party wants to control its spending. Less money will be spent in the upcoming European elections."

Fenech Adami also said the PN had taken a decision not to exclude potential candidatures from being considered for the MEP elections, but said it wanted to "rectify any shortcomings upon criminal procedures being instituted against any potential candidate."

In a dig at the government, Fenech Adami said Laboru was not doing the same with possible candidates like incumbent MEP Claudette Abela Baldacchino who is facing charges of fraud and embezzlement of EU funds. "The PN is always committed to rectify any shortcomings within its party, testament to which is the resignation of a Sliema PN local councillor, who upon criminal procedures being levelled against him, the PN had immediately demanded his resignation."

Fenech Adami  said that following its 36,000-vote electoral loss, the PN has acknowledged its mistakes. "Despite always having opened its doors to everyone, the PN mistakenly believed that people would be coming without it reaching out," he admitted.

"Now, in an effort to overturn its electoral loss, the PN has to knock on the doors of the people and convey its message rather than wait."

On the Individual Investor Programme, Fenech Adami said discussions between the Opposition and the government were still ongoing and explained that hopefully "common sense and the country's general interest will prevail." Fenech Adami also said that the Nationalist Party remains in favour of the civil unions but insisted that the certain aspects of the law have to be changed.

"In tabling the civil unions bill, the government merely applied the same laws in the Marriage Act to same-sex couples. However, it did not take into account the numerous differences," Fenech Adami said, echoing Chris Said's speech during yesterday's parliamentary sitting.