In the Press: MEP battleground to be gas power, referendum in Crimea

The Times of Malta

Gas power the biggest divider in run up to MEP elections

Both party leaders yesterday brought up the LNG storage and rendering plans in a bid to galvanize voters. PN leader Simon Busuttil accused the government of betraying the people of the south, while acknowledging that the PN had an uphill battle ahead of it following its devastating loss during the last elections. PM Joseph Muscat said that the residents of the south would benefit from cleaner air if the LNG plans go through but also said that no party in government had ever won majority in MEP elections and urged supporters to make that happen.

In-Nazzjon

‘PM cannot remain stubborn on Marsaxlokk’ – PN

Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil this morning called on the PM to take the health and safety of residents and business owners in the south of the island into consideration. Busuttil said that the PM should change his stance on the plans, instead approving plans that would anchor an LNG storage and rendering facility further out into the bay, before MEPA take a decision on the matter.

L-Orizzont

GreenMT has not paid tax, penalties or interest in years

GRTU subsidiary GreenMT has not presented audited accounts since 2009, according to this newspaper’s sources. It presented its first and only copy of its accounts in July 2013 and those were dated 2008. L-Orizzont­ speculates that this might mean that taxes – and interest – have not been paid for years.

The Malta Independent

‘We had an incident-free handover’ – PM

Muscat said yesterday that the PN’s ‘scaremongering’ had come to naught. The party predicted the need for an EU economic bailout, the removal of stipends and other economic obstacles, predictions that have not come true. In this vein, Muscat called on the leader of the Opposition to take responsibility for the ‘lies’ his party spread.

A statement released by the PN said that the PM was in ‘panic mode’, ignoring the will of Marsaxlokk residents and the advice of experts alike in a bid to get his way with regards to the LNG plans.

In world news, a referendum was held yesterday in Crimea. Voters were asked whether the region should remain part of the Ukraine or become part of Russia. The EU and United States declared the referendum illegal and its results invalid. Tensions have been mounting between Russia and the West, after the uprising in Kiev, now thought to be reaching Cold War levels.