Gonzi – ‘Whatever the result, jobs will be priority’
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi last night insisted that whatever the result will be next Monday in the upcoming European Parliament elections, the continuation of his government’s efforts to safeguard jobs will be top priority on his agenda.
Addressing a televised debate on TVM last night with Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, the Prime Minister resorted to speak about national issues more than matters related to the European Union, in an inevitable bid to counter the onslaught from his young opponent, who constantly has appealed for the electorate to send a clear message to government over broken promises and the utility tariffs.
Lawrence Gonzi dwelt on his government’s commitment to combat inflation and challenges the country faces in the wake of an international economic crisis.
“We want this country to be competitive and serious,” he said, adding that investing in education will continue to be among the priorities.
He stressed that for the past three years, government had reduced taxes and a rough estimate shows that €152 million have remained in the pockets of Maltese, while children’s allowance was granted to all children.
Impeccably dressed in a navy blue suit, clear white shirt and wide striped blue and grey tie, Lawrence Gonzi appeared tired but combative and persuasive in his arguments.
While Gonzi was punctual for the recording at 1pm, Labour leader Joseph Muscat was late by almost half an hour, due to last-minute change in the time of the debate, e-mailed to their assistants late last night.
Joseph Muscat intelligently produced a water and electricity bill, looked straight at the camera and spoke directly to viewers: “You all have received this, now do you believe the Prime Minister is serious when he speaks? All he has just explained was immediately taken away from you with these bills. I don’t need to tell you what to do with your vote next Saturday.”
The points scored by Lawrence Gonzi were demolished with this gesture, and were further thwarted when Joseph Muscat produced copies of emails and personalised letters that were sent to workers in various sectors before last year’s general election.
“Lawrence Gonzi cannot be trusted,” Joseph Muscat said, adding that people are fed up of facing a situation where government is weak with the strong and strong with the weak.
He used the VAT department fraud scandal as an example, insisting that the electorate is demanding who is to carry the political responsibility for what happened, while hundreds of honest self-employed were confronted by fines and interest for filling in wrong VAT forms or technical absurdities.
Joseph Muscat hit hard at the Prime Minister, who on his part argued against Labour’s political opportunism to derail the consensus on illegal immigration and turn it into a divisive issue.
“We are nor ashamed nor irritated if he (the Prime Minister) accuses us of turning the issue into political football,” he stressed, adding that Labour will keep on talking of the issues people are talking about and of concern to them.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi expressed satisfaction at Joseph Muscat’s words on the PL’s intent to work closely with government on issues of national interest, and asked how credible Muscat was when saying this.
“It is nice to hear him speak that way, but facts show us another Joseph Muscat,” he said, while explaining that on illegal immigration, he had ordered all the ministries concerned to give Muscat a detailed briefing on the situation.
“He attended the briefing, but now he conveniently divided the nation on the issue,” the Prime Minister said, receiving an immediate reply from Joseph Muscat who insisted that Lawrence Gonzi signed the Pact on Immigration and Asylum when he knew that the voluntary burden sharing clause was a definite non-starter.
Both leaders exchanged salvos over the Delimara power station extension contract, with Gonzi defending his government’s decision to award the contract to a company that will supply diesel turbines to generate electricity.
Gonzi asked “why the fuss?”, stating that the chosen technology has been sold to Corsica and other islands, but Joseph Muscat charged that the technology is “old” and highly polluting to the extent that it will produce between 40 to 60 tonnes of toxic waste per day.
Both politicians crossed swords over the best choice of candidates for next Saturday’s elections, with Prime Minister Gonzi closing the debate by stating that the electorate must look at the PN list of candidates as the best “morally” prepared politicians.
“Invest your vote with candidates who have sound moral values, who have respect for life, family and solidarity,” he said.
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