In a Leader's debate that presented nothing new, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat focused on his government's proposals and economic performance, while his counterpart PN Leader Simon Busuttil stuck to his strong anti-corruption message.
When facing the allegations, Dr Muscat continuously deflected from the now-published damning FIAU reports on his chief of staff Keith Schembri choosing to focus on the Egrant inquiry, once again repeating his call for Dr Busuttil to resign should the initial inquiry yield no results.
Dr Busuttil, on the other hand, by tactically focusing on the corruption allegations, failed to properly translate his party's electoral manifesto.
In a timid affair, the PN Leader began by emphasising that Joseph Muscat was forced to call an early election in spite of winning by the "largest majority this country has ever seen."
"All because his government is plagued by corruption."
Appealing to the electorate, Dr Busuttil said that on Saturday the country had one clear choice, to either vote for honesty and integrity or "a Prime Minister who is under criminal investigation, a chief of staff who is under two criminal investigation."
Referencing the number of allegations revealed by The Malta Independent and The Times of Malta, Dr Busuttil said that " the Prime Minister closed his eyes to corruption, to theft, of our passports, our visas, the LNG tanker, Enemalta, and now even VGH."
The Prime Minister responded by assertively stating that the Opposition was obsessed with negative attacks, such as corruption, and could not see any positives in the country.
"It annoys people. I am not saying we have a perfect government, but everyone knows that our country is much better than it was four years ago."
He criticised the "campaign of fear and intimidation with the financial services and iGaming sectors", claiming that a new iGaming company 'Skybet' had just begun setting up offices in the country.
"Dr Muscat said he was not perfect and made mistakes," Dr Busuttil retorted," I am the same, but there is a difference, you planned this from beforehand."
"The Panamanian companies were opened in 2013, straight after PL had got elected. This is not a mistake but a plan, with criminal intentions."
Repeating his anti-corruption stance, the PN Leader hammered on the FIAU reports on Keith Schembri.
"This is the PM's best friend. If he goes down, the PM has to go down with him."
Dr Busuttil published the details of the FIAU reports on Pilatus Bank and Keith Schembri during last week's debate on Xarabank.
"Pilatus is a washing machine of money laundering," he said.
Pointing to the gaming sector, Dr Busuttil began quoting text messages he had received concerning the uncertainty of a number of large gaming company.
"They have a plan A or a plan B which depends on the election. Plan A is if Joseph Muscat gets elected, they will leave on Monday; Plan B would be to give the PN 3 months to sort out the situation. This is the level of danger Muscat has put the country in."
Dr Muscat mocked his counterpart telling him "you come here with texts, and I come here with an igaming company."
"He seems to enjoy playing with cards, like a poker player who is bluffing."
He said that there were indeed facts about corruption.
"We put in legislation for political party financing. The PL have presented their accounts, where are PN's? In a situation when he issued invoices to launder money into his political party."
The PL Leader went on to say that Dr Busuttil would be elected on a lie and maintained that this "was an attack not only against me and my wife, but against our country"
Dr Busuttil said he agreed that damage had been done to our country on the international stage, but said it was the Prime Minister's inability to tackle corruption which caused.
Turning to Dr Muscat's claims that he would resign if the allegations surrounding Egrant were proved correct, Dr Busutiil said that if this were the case the PM would have removed Schembri and Mizzi a year ago.
"Egrant does exist. It belongs to someone so important that it could only be passed through a Skype call. Who can be more important than Schembri and Mizzi? First it was Brian Tonna, then it was DCG, then I invented, and then it was Russia."
Focusing on his manifesto, Dr Muscat said that the PL have a clear and concrete plans that would cost 220 million a year, and add stimulus to the economy, while PN's would cost with 1.3 billion a year with vague costings.
He said that Dr Busuttil did not come to the debate with one argument or fact, and had "closed his mouth, ears, and eyes to DB and Fenech Adami"
Turning to PD Leader Marlene Farrugia, the PM said that he will not be able to control and would lead to massive instability.
He said that Simon Busuttil would not be capable to run a one-seat majority parliament.
"He has no idea how to run the economy, he makes basic mistakes on calculations."
The PN Leader replied by saying that it was Muscat's government that was unstable as it had to end before the completion of the legislature.
On the surplus, Dr Busuttil said that he had stated the PN was prophetic when the PN's 2013 manifesto said the country would reach a surplus in 2016.
"You even admitted that you had found a strong economy, we will create six new sectors, and strengthen our economy so it can benefit everyone."
"He praises closing the HFO plant, but he could only do it because he found the BWSC power plant and the inter connector."
He closed by saying that he promised that honest politics will become the foundation of the government.
The PM retorted by saying "That is the difference between you and me. You write, and I do."
He closed by listing a number of achievements by his government in a number of fields, emphasising the importance of his government in moving the country forward.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2rcgolQ
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