menu

Leaders' debate on Xarabank - live blog

Follow the leaders' debate on Xarabank here

danielmizzi
14 March 2014, 8:48pm
by Daniel Mizzi

This live-blog is now closed.

23:29 And the send-off after the leaders' debate, Malta's Eurovision Song Contest entry Firelight's 'Coming Home' with a video with a WWI theme... why? Matthew Vella
23:26 Peppi Azzopardi shouting at the audience and calling on them to quiet down. Ace presenter skills. Matthew Vella
23:26 Audience: "Aaaaaaaarrrh Joseph! Joseph! Joseph!" Matthew Vella
23:25 In his closing speech, Busuttil reiterates his derision of the government’s “lack of jobs” and argues that the government did not deliver on its proposed roadmap. On the LNG terminal, he reiterates the PN’s insistence against the proposal and calls on the prime minister not to steamroll over the residents’ interests. Daniel Mizzi
23:25 Turning in - need to wake up and smell the coffee tomorrow morning... Matthew Vella
23:23 Busuttil says the government’s threats and calls for the EU to “wake up and smell the coffee” yielded no results and migrants have not been reallocated – Muscat quickly throws out figures insisting the government did deliver on its pledge to reallocate migrants. Daniel Mizzi
23:21 “The EU did not abandon Malta,” Cassola on immigration. “The PPE and the S&D did not propose any measures to amend the Dublin regulations … Only the Green Party is proposing it.“ Daniel Mizzi
23:18 A put-down by the Prime Minister that does not answer the questions raised by Cassola: Muscat says Cassola 'abandoned because there is no Green prime minister in Europe'. Matthew Vella
23:17 Aha... Cassola says that no questions on migration were put to either party by Azzopardi. The question was left to the Greens - Cassola says it's only the European Greens who in their manifesto are calling for the removal of the Dublin II Regulation, while the big parties of the EPP and socialists don't want to irk bigger EU nations. Matthew Vella
23:14 Peppi warns: Any applause will be dealt with sternly and offenders will be escorted out. Daniel Mizzi
23:13 On the white paper on party financing, Cassola says the government was pro-business and accuses businessmen of financing the Labour Party’s electoral campaign – Muscat quickly rebuts Cassola’s comments and insists that the Labour Party accounts have been audited. Daniel Mizzi
23:12 Nice touch on the citizenship debate: Cassola says naturalisation of citizens for Malta's sporting achievement, should not depend on the grace and mercy of ministers, but on a clear naturalisation framework. Matthew Vella
23:11 Cassola talking bread-and-butter issues: what about low-income earners who got no tax cuts in the last budget? Matthew Vella
23:10 Cassola says AD is not against construction but in favour of good planning, taking the PN to task for using its MEPA member, MP Ryan Callus to vote against the Mistra development while its executive committee president actually represents the Mistra developers; and then says Muscat is declaredly "pro business" and "in the pockets of business". Matthew Vella
23:05 Hmmm... Busuttil caught by Muscat's question on whether he will vote against spring hunting. A tricky moment for Busuttil who momentarily fumbles in his reply. Muscat says retaining spring hunting is part of the Labour manifesto (applause - then Peppi Azzopardi says the BA has directed Xarabank not to allow studio applause. What a farce...) Matthew Vella
23:03 Simon Busuttil: if C.A.S.H. has collected its 40,000 signatures, a referendum should take place. Matthew Vella
23:03 Muscat says he prefers solution to spring hunting abolution, not abrogative referendum he calls "divisive"... Matthew Vella
23:01 Hmmm... Peppi question: "Isn't the majority imposing on the minority 'arrogance'?" No, I'm afraid that's the general rule in democracy (question was about the spring hunting abolition petition). Matthew Vella
23:01 Green Party leader and MEP candidate Arnold Cassola is on stage. Matthew Vella
23:00 “Is this how you ensure that the Cabinet is the best Malta has ever seen? By changing it after 15 minutes,” Busuttil says while drawing comparisons between the proposed reshuffle and a football match. Daniel Mizzi
22:57 Back to the LNG terminal … Busuttil calls on the prime minister to guarantee that the terminal poses no risk. Muscat quickly interrupts him and says that “provided that there is no sabotage”, the terminal would pose no threat to the Marsaxlokk and Birzebbugia residents . Daniel Mizzi
22:54 The kind of people asking questions on Xarabank could be eligible for free medicine under the national health service formulary. PN cafeteria? Seriously? Matthew Vella
22:50 On Busuttil's point about overcrowding in Mater Dei hospital wards (no new phenomenon here) read Paul Pace's blog on MaltaToday: http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/lifestyle/health/36631/the_silent_suffering_of_mater_deis_overcrowding#.UyN5bF5siv1 Matthew Vella
22:49 Busuttil says the opposition did not expect a complete overhaul or a miracle, but nevertheless insists that the situation of out-of-stock medicines is “worse than ever before.” In a tit-for-tat, Joseph Muscat says figures of out of stock medicines have dropped to 40 per week, “down from 130 per week under PN government.” Daniel Mizzi
22:42 When is Arnold Cassola coming in on this debate? Matthew Vella
22:41 Tweets to the rescue Matthew Vella
22:41 Busuttil calls on the government to carry out further studies before extending the right of adoption to gay couples. “Malta is not yet prepared for this measure to be implemented. We call on the government to carry out social impact assessment tests on gay adoption." Daniel Mizzi
22:40 Looks like Buttardi had an "evening of wine, chocolate, and beads" at the St Ignatius Loyola Nursery, NY showcasing their collection back in February according to their website... Matthew Vella
22:35 Busuttil sets much store in pointing out that Michelle Buttigieg, "a business partner" of Muscat's wife, was given a tourism job in New York representing Malta, but that she spends her time promoting her Buttardi jewellery collection. Matthew Vella
22:32 Muscat hits back at Busuttil: PN government in 2002 appointed Simon Busuttil without call for Malta-EU Information Centre... and that his legal office took over €412,000 in contracts from the former resources ministry of George Pullicino. Matthew Vella
22:31 “The only criterion for anyone to qualify for a job within the civil service is to be a Labourite. No wonder the police commissioner is the prime minister’s puppet. Work has only been given to Labour Party supporters." Daniel Mizzi
22:30 True: what has William Mangion, sometime Eurovision hopeful turned 'seeker for bands' garages', been doing? Matthew Vella
22:29 “We expect that the government delivers and fulfils on its Malta Taghna Lkoll pledge,” Simon Busuttil says. Daniel Mizzi
22:22 “It is clear that Busuttil is a lawyer and not an economist because he does not know what privatisation entails,” Muscat says while insisting that Enemalta has not been privatised. Daniel Mizzi
22:16 “The PN is not credible when discussing the country’s health, previous governments turned the south into a health hazard,” Muscat says. Daniel Mizzi
22:15 And Busuttil says the Delimara BWSC plant is so not a cancer factory that Muscat is selling it to the Chinese... Matthew Vella
22:14 No sooner said than done Matthew Vella
22:13 Muscat brings back "the cancer factory" mantra, waxing lyrical on air quality once Delimara switches to natural gas (even though HFO has had no deleterious effects on air quality, as a recent scientific study confirmed) Matthew Vella
22:11 “Previous prime ministers interfered in murder investigations,” Muscat says. Busuttil insists that the government was wrong in interfering in the Enemalta tampering ring. Daniel Mizzi
22:09 No more 'Mosta Domes', it's 'the size of three football pitches' now... (energy talk, LNG tankers...) Matthew Vella
22:09 Muscat underlines that energy theft had been prevalent under previous PN government. Responding to Busuttil’s comments that the government is “institutionalising” corruption, Muscat reiterates that he wants to catch the “masterminds.” Muscat says the PN leader would be left red-faced in the next three weeks as Enemalta account holders would be arraigned if they refrain from divulging information. Daniel Mizzi
22:04 Muscat says there are 3 weeks left for those who paid Enemalta installers to hack their smart meters to own up and give information on the case Matthew Vella
22:02 Simon Busuttil says the government’s implemented laws against corruption are useless if criminal proceedings are subsequently waived against those guilty of corrupting Enemalta officials. “This is a prime minister who pledged zero tolerance to corruption, yet now he has 100% tolerance to corruption.” Taking a swipe at police commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, Busuttil reiterates his claims that Zammit is Joseph Muscat’s “puppet” – with the prime minister blasting the comments “undermining and disrespectful” comments levelled at the police commissioner. Daniel Mizzi
22:02 Portrait of a candidate and incumbent Matthew Vella
21:59 Good answer from Busuttil here: it's not he who wants a 1,000 alleged bribers in jail, he wants the courts "not the prime minister" to decide who goes to jail or not. "It's gone from zero-tolerance to 100% tolerance of corruption." Matthew Vella
21:58 Joseph Muscat defends the government’s decision to waive criminal proceedings against Enemalta account holders guilty of stealing electricity and of corrupting Enemalta officials. He insists that the leniency is only there to catch the “big fish” and the perpetrators behind the smart-meter tampering ring. Muscat stresses that the leniency only applies to those account holders who disclose the names of the masterminds. Daniel Mizzi
21:48 Matthew Vella
21:47 Trading blows with Simon Busuttil, the prime minister underlines that the Nationalist Party and Busuttil do not have a “divine right” to rule Malta. Daniel Mizzi
21:43 On his part, Muscat insists that Malta’s coffers stand to benefit up to €1 billion from the citizenship scheme – figures which according to Simon Busuttil do not present a true picture. Daniel Mizzi
21:41 “What you deem as being in the national interest of Malta, is not necessarily in the interest of Malta,” Busuttil says while arguing that the citizenship scheme would not be beneficial to Malta. Daniel Mizzi
21:40 Whoa... Busuttil has just told Muscat that "he is used to meeting dictators, like Yanukovych" - Muscat doesn't answer to this throwaway accusation, but it refers to a visit planned by the Ukrainian president to Malta shortly after the Euromaidan protests started. Matthew Vella
21:39 Should MEPs necessarily vote "in favour of Malta"? That's what Muscat seems to think, and Busuttil is telling him that what he thinks is the national interest is not necessarily the national interest Matthew Vella
21:38 The PN leader pulls no punches in slamming the “embarrassing” scheme. While flicking through hundreds of foreign reports lambasting Malta’s citizenship scheme, he insists that it tarnished the country’s name and turned into it a laughing stock. Daniel Mizzi
21:37 Peppi Azzopardi wastes no time in grilling the prime minister on the citizenship scheme and how it was not proposed in the Labour Party’s electoral manifesto. Joseph Muscat bemoans the “destructive” opposition for its constant criticism of the citizenship scheme. Daniel Mizzi
21:37 Busuttil's tie is the standard 'business' blue... he's now laying it into Muscat over the fact that S&D leader Hannes Swoboda voted 'against' Malta's citizenship sale in the EP. Matthew Vella
21:34 Joseph Muscat says tonight’s debate focuses on two main issues: the government’s credentials and its credibility, two values which according to Muscat, Simon Busuttil “lacks” to be afforded the political seriousness. He recounts the government’s first year in government and its implemented measures, amongst which include the increase in stipends, decrease in income tax rates as well as increase in economic growth. Daniel Mizzi
21:33 I've never seen Muscat wear this baby-blue coloured tie before... "balances and recharges the emotions and inspires good communication skills" - ah well... Matthew Vella
21:31 Simon Busuttil starts the debate off by insisting that the PN opposition is a strong opposition and that it has cooperated with the government. He explains that the PN opposition voted in favour of 20 new legislative proposals. Busuttil however laments the derided citizenship scheme and the government’s proposal to build a Liquefied gas terminal at Delimara. Daniel Mizzi
21:30 Simon Busuttil says his Opposition will call a spade a spade, and starts off with a litany of economic shortcomings for 2013. Matthew Vella
21:26 Joseph Muscat and Simon Busuttil have both arrived and the leaders’ debate will commence shortly. Daniel Mizzi
21:00 Good evening and welcome to MaltaToday's live-blog of this evening’s leaders’ debate. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil and Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Arnold Cassola will be participating in the debate. Daniel Mizzi
20:51 Welcome to our live blog! Matthew Vella

 

By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy including the use of cookies to enhance your experience.