Opposition and Labour leader Joseph Muscat last night called on all Maltese of goodwill to unite in a brand new coalition that includes those who voted in favour and against joining the European Union, all walks of life and irrespective of what they traditionally voted for in the past.
“This coalition will lead the country towards a brand new dawn,” he said before a large crowd that gathered in Narbona Square in Qormi, adding that the time has come for government to assume political responsibility for the abuses in office that are “blatantly” being committed without a care.
Joseph Muscat insisted that PN general council secretary Victor Scerri must assume political responsibility for what he branded as a “scandalous” permit that was issued by MEPA for a development in the heart of the Bahrija Valley notwithstanding four consecutive refusals.
He said that the people are now fed up of witnessing such things happen, when MEPA refuses permits of a petty nature such as modification of apertures.
“We cannot allow this nonsense to continue, and surely not accept the rape of a pristine valley,” Joseph Muscat said.
Acknowledging applause from the crowd, Muscat heightened his attack on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi’s government by insisting that Ministers assume political responsibility for the VAT department fraud and the Matsec exam paper mistakes.
He rebutted Gonzi’s comment that Labour is exploiting national rather than European issues, given that Saturday’s election are to elect Maltese representatives to the European Parliament.
“I don’t care what Lawrence Gonzi wants me to talk about. I certainly do not need to raise my hand and ask for his permission to speak on the issues I know that all Maltese are talking about, and which he just simply ignores,” Muscat charged, adding that the truth is that many Maltese are worried about their future.
He dwelt on the uncertainty of thousands of workers, who are working more but earning less, while having to cope with an increasing cost of living.
“Malta is the only country within the Eurozone that has inflation,” he said, insisting that he has no shame in calling for the setting up of what many used to call the “price control” system.
Joseph Muscat explained that the price control system should be activated in the same efficient way the prices were monitored before and shortly after the conversion to the Euro currency.
The Labour leader refused to accept the suggestion made by the Prime Minister that the PL was playing “political football” on issues such as illegal immigration and healthcare.
He challenged the Prime Minister once again on the report commissioned by Castille and was recently discussed in Cabinet, allegedly stating methods of payment to sustain healthcare.
Joseph Muscat went a notch further to reveal correspondence from the European Commission in Brussels explaining that a “reform” in healthcare was to be implemented.
“This is what the Prime Minister has discussed, and this will happen,” he warned the attentive crowd in Qormi.
Moreover, he returned to sender the recent accusation from government that the PL was trying to play “political football” by refusing pairing in Parliament, and denied that the health minister had to attend an important council meeting in Brussels that discussed swine flu.
“We were unjustly accused by government of trying to play dirty, when government never bothered to explain that as Opposition we offered to take the parliamentary vote that day on any other day, such as before or after,” he said.
Here, Joseph Muscat pulled out a meeting agenda dated May 21, where the World Health Organisation (WHO) had its world annual conference, and no minister was sent for that meeting even though there was no parliamentary vote scheduled that day.
A further dig at what he called “Lawrence Gonzi’s total loss of control,” was made when Joseph Muscat referred to VAT being charged on vaccines, quoting Taxation and Customs Union Commissioner Laszlo Kovacks stating that the choice of VAT was never imposed by the EU but left as a prerogative of the member state.
“We have cases of people who were charged VAT for serious vaccination such as meningitis and cervical cancer,” Muscat said with an angry tone, accusing government of gross irresponsibility, by exploiting VAT from the vulnerable.
Once again, Joseph Muscat warned on the importance of next Saturday’s vote, and appealed to all his supporters not to count their chickens before they are hatched.
He rejected the suggestion on voter polls that are putting the PL in the lead for the European elections, stating that “lessons must be learnt from how the PN confronts elections and turns them his way.”
Before Joseph Muscat took centre stage, deputy leader Anglu Farrugia warned government that the PL will not be complacent in the eventuality of any suspected corrupt practices.
He announced that together with PL vice president Louis Gatt, he had formally written to the Electoral Commission requesting the issuing of a Legal Notice that would enforce a ban on the carrying of cell phones, recorders or photographic equipment into polling stations.
“So far we have received no notice of such a Legal Notice, and we know how government and the PN have an influence on the Electoral Commission,” he said, while appealing to all Labourites to be “vigilant at all times” and report to the party’s customer service department any suspicious activity in or around any polling station.
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