Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today downplayed the €360 million loan guarantee given to a private consortium tasked with building a new power station.
In a short telphone interview on One Radio, Dr Muscat said he cannot understand the Opposition’s misgivings about the guarantee, particularly seeing that the Nationalist Party gave a €300 million guarantee on Enemalta’s debts in 2012 and also gave a guarantee on the new Parliament building.
He reminded that the government has come good on its promise to reduce energy tariffs, a reduction that was touted as being the “gimmick of the millennium” by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.
Dr Muscat said that Dr Busuttil first said the tariff reductions were impossible, then said it was not true that they had been reduced, and he is now saying the reductions are thanks to a Nationalist government.
Dr Muscat questioned if Dr Busuttil understood the proposal he himself made in the PN’s electoral programme, which proposed the setting up of a development bank.
In order for such a bank to be established in Malta, the government has to be willing to offer such guarantees, he said.
On the economy, Dr Muscat said that economic growth in Malta is strong, and it has been a while since so many jobs consistently created.
Although there are still people who are jobless or feel they are underpaid, Dr Muscat said ultimately the Maltese economy is producing jobs and results.
“This is not a coincidence but the fruits of government decisions.”
He said the tourism sector in particular is going strong, and Gozo is set to benefit from one of its strongest summers in this regard, with increases in both Maltese and foreign visitors.
On a more sombre note, Dr Muscat wished government whip Godfrey Farrugia a speedy recovery following his prostate cancer diagnosis.
Dr Farrugia is expected to undergo an operation in the UK in the coming weeks.
PM has his back to the wall - PN
In a short press statement, the PN said Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has his back to the wall in defending the €360 million loan guarantee.