Simon Busuttil is after an increase in his MPs’ pays, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said in reaction to the Opposition leader’s speech on the 2015 budget.

Dr Muscat again said that Dr Busuttil does not grasp “the basic concepts of economics” and makes fundamental mistakes on the topic.

The Prime Minister said that Dr Busuttil defended the legacy of his predecessors, which includes Arriva, the €500 per week pay increase for Ministers and high energy tariffs.

He accused Dr Busuttil of being out of touch and being more concerned with individual attacks.

He said that Dr Busuttil does not understand the “unprecedented”  war being waged by the government against benefits abuse. Instead, he is “defending” people who steal taxpayers’ money. 

“Last week they said it was the longest budget in history. Today we saw the most negative reply by an Opposition leader in Parliament. He attacked every decision and every sector.”

Dr Busuttil did not even speak about education, and failed to touch upon anything that is going well in the country.

In Parliament, Dr Busuttil said that the Prime Minister has been sitting on a report on MPs pays for six months.

Asked when this report will be published, Dr Muscat said that the report is currently being analysed and will be opened for public consultation.