Two major parties "irresponsible" - AD

The two major political parties are being very irresponsible when they are promising "everything to everyone" without taking into account the financial impact, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Michael Briguglio said this morning. The Nationalist Party was promising a tunnel between Malta and Gozo  and the Labour Party was pledging to reduce the water and electricity bills. They were ignoring the financial situation of the country, he said, adding that recent official figures showed that Malta's deficit was on the increase. Speaking during a press conference at Balluta Bay, Dr Briguglio also criticised the government for "regressive" measures  - such as the tax cuts -  announced in the Budget for 2013. “Should such tax cuts be approved, we will subsequently be likely to have to pay up for their impact on public finance through a reduction of public services, more borrowing or compensating tax elsewhere. The proposed tax reduction in the budget also lacks a social justice dimension. Indeed, deductions are regressive as they are not benefiting the vast majority of workers who earn less than €19,500, and they are taxing minimum wage earners who are single,” he said. AD, he said,...