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WATCH: Karl Stagno Navarra Says Malta Has Become ‘World’s Envy’ Ahead Of Joseph Muscat Special Tonight

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Former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat will be interviewed on ONE TV’s Pjazza this evening, a day after he resigned from Parliament.

Ahead of this interview, the show’s presenter Karl Stagno Navarra hailed Muscat for his economic achievements throughout his seven-year tenure as Prime Minister.

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“We became the envy of the world and of Europe, and during the pandemic, we are now enjoying the wealth that was created under Joseph Muscat,” he said. “This evening on Pjazza, he will speak about his time as a politician who managed to transform Maltese society.”

Muscat stepped down as an MP yesterday with a 90-second speech, in which he said he was proud of the service he gave during his 12 years in Parliament.

“Despite my nature telling me that I should have done more, avoided mistakes, and introduced more changes, I am happy that my contribution to the country allowed it to be in a better position and more unified than it ever was before,” he said.

Muscat was elected Prime Minister in 2013 and re-elected in 2017, both with massive victory margins. Under his watch, Malta’s economy grew at a rapid rate, unemployment dropped to a record low, and a swathe of liberal policies was ushered in.

However, his tenure was mired by corruption allegations and he ended up stepping down in disgrace last year after his chief of staff Keith Schembri was implicated in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.

Murder suspect Yorgen Fenech has claimed Muscat was one of three people who knew of the murder after the fact and that he discussed the murder with the then Prime Minister twice. Muscat has vehemently denied these allegations.

In a statement, the Labour Party praised Muscat for his electoral track record and for transforming the party into an inclusive, progressive and moderate movement.

“Joseph Muscat remains the only political leader in Malta’s history to win every single election he contested, and this against three different PN leaders,” the PL said.

It toasted his government’s economic policies, notably the reduction of utility tariffs, the creation of a new middle class, free childcare, increases in pensions and the minimum wage, and a scheme for first time property buyers.

Also mentioned were the legalisation of civil unions and gay marriage, the reduction of the national voting age to 16 and the ongoing road upgrade project. With regards the assassination of Caruana Galizia, the PL said Muscat “kept his word by sticking to the promise to deliver justice that he made right after the crime was committed”.

What do you make of Joseph Muscat’s seven-year tenure as Prime Minister?

READ NEXT: WATCH: Robert Abela Says Bernard Grech Partially To Blame For Malta’s Moneyval Woes

Tim is interested in the rapid evolution of human society and is passionate about justice, human rights and cutting-edge political debates. You can follow him on Instagram or Twitter/X at @timdiacono or reach out to him at [email protected]

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