The Malta Independent reports:
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi insisted that he was pleased to serve a full five year term, regardless of the outcome of the budget vote.
In an interview by lecturer Andrew Azzopardi, recorded on Friday evening and aired on Saturday morning on Radju Malta, Dr Gonzi pointed out that the election would, in each case, take place early next year, after five full years had elapsed.
The last election took place on 8 March, 2008. The earliest possible election date which would see the government serve five years – assuming the next election takes place on Saturday – is 9 March, 2013. An election would have to be held within three months should the government lose the budget vote on 10 December, making that date an option even then.
The prime minister said that he had not only brought the ship to port, but had also sailed through a storm that brought other countries to their knees.
Dr Gonzi noted that the constitution allowed for arrangements to be made should a budget fail to be approved to allow the government to continue to function, but insisted that limitations on spending would mean that measures such as the income tax cut for top earners could not be implemented.
But the government had now laid the cards on the table, regardless of the outcome of the vote.
Ghandi xi Nghid 