Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/589122
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Taking a swipe at opposition leader Simon Busuttil, the Prime Minister said he was not fit to sit for an O Level exam in econom- ics given his track record. "In the last three months of the previous PN government, when Busuttil served as deputy leader, the debt increased by €300 mil- lion," Muscat said. Accusing Busuttil of "not hav- ing a clue" in economics, Mus- cat said his counterpart's Budget speech on Monday was littered with "inaccuracies and lies." 'I'm not a salesman of env y and division," he said as he disman- tled the opposition leader's criti- cism on Labour's third budget. On Monday, Busuttil said ex- ports had decreased by €700 million, but the Prime Minister said Eurostat statistics showed that exports increased by 8%. "Learn how to read first," a gloating Muscat said, much to the pleasure of MPs. "I have nothing to apologise for," Muscat added in response to Busuttil 's criticism on gov- ernment's engagement of 5,500 people. "We have employed teachers, learning assistants, midwives and nurses," he said, telling Busuttil, "you cannot get one single sum right." 429 people joined the public service over the past year, in- cluding 121 with health and 282 in education, Muscat said. He also dismissed Busuttil 's criticism on inf lation, which stands at 1.05%, Muscat said "that's why we have the Cost of Living Adjustment mechanism" adding that the PN leader did not understand the basic princi- ples of economics. On Monday Busuttil said that the average wage suffered a slump, but Muscat said the PN leader quoted statistics wrongly, missing "an important footnote" adding that while the average wage under the previous PN government increased by €303, it has now gone up by €333. "We cannot ensure social jus- tice without a sound economy," Muscat said as he underlined his government's efforts to aid the vulnerable, help workers exit precarious jobs and decrease in- come tax while increasing pen- sions. "Our goal is to create a new middle class and promote social mobility," he said as he took a break from puncturing the op- position's criticism and listed a number of measures which will benefit working mothers, pensioners, young families and other people. Turning to the energy sector, Muscat said his government had successfully turned Enemalta around and announced the com- pany would be launching its first investment overseas in the com- ing days. In the closing stages of his speech, Muscat said he would not stoop as low as the " bitter" Busuttil had done a day earlier and said instead of dubbing the PN leader as "Mr Standards" he should have described him as "Mr Double Standards." In response to Busuttil 's criti- cism on the employment of former Labour media personnel by various government entities, Muscat reminded the PN leader that he was a PN radio station employee when he was engaged by the Malta EU Information Centre in 1999. He also reminded Busuttil of the various contracts he was awarded under successive PN administrations, adding "we are slowly exposing your hypoc- risy." On traffic, the Prime Min- ister failed to announce new measures and instead Muscat said finishing infrastructural works on time was government's number one priority. However he also highlighted the incen- tives to increase motorbikes on the road and the importance of improving public transport. MIRIAM DALLI IN a brief press point where he did not take any questions, Op- position leader Simon Busuttil described the Prime Minister's speech as "full of bluff but offers little substance on the matters that really affect the people". Following Busuttil's budget speech in parliament on Monday evening, it was Muscat's turn on Tuesday evening to react to Bu- suttil's speech. "The Prime Minister structured his speech in a way that shows he was replying to my speech. This shows that we are setting the agenda," the PN leader claimed. According to Busuttil, Muscat's two-hour speech "lacked humil- ity and reflected hard-headed- ness". "It was an aggressive speech. Muscat said nothing of new eco- nomic sectors that he wants to build for the coming years. There was nothing about the economic vision and he completely ignored the social partners' call for a re- duction in tariffs," Busuttil said, flanked by deputy leaders Mario de Marco and Beppe Fenech Adami. "He has ignored the Opposi- tion's call for a reduction in fuel prices." Busuttil said that not once did Muscat mention the environ- ment, despite it being under threat and offered no solutions for the traffic problems. "He did not say anything about scandals which we revealed." 'Muscat's full of bluff but little substance' – PN