Does Joseph Muscat have an opinion about this – or is he mired in buses, water and electricity?
Let's put these in charge, shall we?
From The Times (London) online business updates today:
Some numbers underlining just what a breakup of the eurozone would mean.
For Germany alone, the cost of such a split would be a 3 per cent economic contraction and a loss of 1 million jobs if the euro area were to shrink to a few core member countries, said EC spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen. “It is a huge cost … we cannot allow the eurozone or the European Union to fragment because it would be very much against the interest of the European people as a whole. A slowdown of the deeper integration of euro area is not an option either, given the challenges that we face. But this is an open process, not an exclusive or divisive process.”
EC President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a speech last night that a break-up of the eurozone or the European Union would slash GDP in the union by 50 per cent.
23 Comments Comment
Leave a Comment
He won’t be consulting Anglu Farrugia, will he? The man doesn’t even know how to count. Here he is, talking about the Eurozone in an article published today:
“Pajjiżna llum, jinsab flimkien ma’ dawn l-14-il pajjiż, fosthom il-Greċja.”
There are SEVENTEEN countries in the Eurozone, but Anglu hadn’t noticed.
Would you leave put him in charge of the economy?
You all know the Legend of Il-Maqluba, don’t you?
From: http://www.geulogy.com/malta/Il-Maqluba-malta-legends.html
“This legend tells us of a group of bad people living together in a hamlet. God warned the village, through a good woman living close by, against their bad ways. As the bad people did not heed these warnings, God decreed that the land swallow the hamlet, sparing none except the good woman. Angels were then dispatched to dispose of the hamlet by dumping it at sea. Legend thus tells of the formation of the island of Filfla, just off the southwest coast of Malta.”
The analogy is too obvious to necessitate an explanation.
(If Anglu Farrugia wishes, he may send me or my elder brother Max an email, and we’ll give him the cues and hints he requires.)
With Joseph Muscat as Prime Minister, the bus system will work so well that anyone can get to his job sharp on time. If there are jobs…
I think you mean “if people are willing to work”, seeing that the bulk of the unemployed/unemployable people and those not willing to work tend to be of the Labour mindset.
… a Labour mindset.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/2011/1110/evarist-bartolo-suggests-spanish-as-third-language
Ole’Jose’!
Too many numbers for Anglu Farrugia’s abacus:
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/economics/article3222377.ece
1330 The European Union warned that the 17-country eurozone could slip into “a deep and prolonged recession” next year as the debt crisis shows alarming signs of spinning out of control. The European Commission said its central forecast is that the eurozone will grow by just 0.5 per cent next year – way down on the 1.8 per cent prediction it made in the spring. Olli Rehn, EU monetary affairs commissioner, said today: “This forecast is in fact the last wake-up call. Growth has stalled in Europe, and there is a risk of a new recession.”
Actually, since I am living in November 2011 and not “in 18 months time”, I am looking around in vain for some comment by Lawrence Gonzi regarding the breakdown of the euro area.
What I DID read about, however, is that Malta is, with Cyprus, only 1 of 2 countries in the Eurozone who is against a tax on financial services transactions, thus going directly against something that the EU President Barroso, whom you quote, is strongly insisting upon as a means of revenue for governments.
The PN government seems to think it can on one hand fly the Euro flag and on the other hand adhere to policies promoted by non-euro country Britain. Maybe it is proposing some solutions based in the Svizzera fil-Mediterran after all?
Why are we surprised. Joseph Muscat did not know how Moodys, Standard & Poors and Fitch work.
During the parliamentary debate the Prime Minister had to explain that to him.
“Does Joseph Muscat have an opinion about this – or is he mired in buses, water and electricity?”
You do not give him due credit. He has opinions on far more diverse subjects than just that, such as gas to mention just one.
(or petrol to mention the other)
They haven’t heard about Labour’s Cunning John Dalli Plan:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/consumertips/household-bills/8881051/Energy-price-to-hit-six-million-households.html
If only John Dalli could reassure Barroso by telling him that Joe Cuschieri will soon be making his priceless contribution to the Union and that, as a result, things will turn for the better.
He can also throw in Anglu for good measure who will be able to help in no small way once he learns how to count to twenty.
Anglu Farrugia is not even aware of the important issues that are currently happening in Malta, let alone in the EU.
This was evidently seen in Bondi +, when he stated for many times that Austin Gatt is no longer responsible for Smart City.
Anglu is also to be held responsible to substantiate what he said about John Dalli having forwarded a report to the Prime Minister, and that this report is our salvation.
If Anglu is saying the truth he should prove it and not try to cheat.
Is it possible that Joseph Muscat is not aware of this person’s mentality and ability?
I am sure he acted like a bully at the PL Headquarters and told Joseph Muscat and his brilliant to let him go on the Bondi + programme to corner Lou Bondi like nobody else can.
But it would have been better for the PL if Anglu never went on that programme, ghax issa kullhadd jghid kemm hu injorant.
Is it true this man is the deputy leader of the PL or is it a nightmare?
Daphne, in the next election the MLP will be facing a reality check.
With the privatization of the dockyard, the formidable Labour base is now gone.
We now know that virtually all the skilled workers from the dockyard are now gainfully employed in the private sector.
These workers who went through a period of insecurity, for them and their families, do not want to go through another period of job insecurity.
This government in spite of its shortcomings has been able to keep the economy growing while our neighbours are seeing high unemployment and lower standard of living.
With MLP in government the private sector will again suffer.
I don’t believe that the worker is going to vote for Joseph and Anglu when they have no plan, in spite of being in their leadership posts for the last three plus years.
I guess Joseph prefers to chat with Labour sympathizers in the media than spend time devising a coherent plan for what comes after the general election.
Why don’t you ask EFA instead? He got us in the EU and perhaps it would be a good idea if you were to ask Dr Gonzi too, since he got us in the mess of the Euro! Imnalla dhalna fil-Euro!!!!!
Do they know what it means to be in charge?
Ah I thought we were safe in the Euro ‘cos they will come and save us.
Meaning…?
Meaning reuters voted No and Labour in 2003.
They will certainly not save us when Joey’s promised profligacy will reduce us to Greece’s status.
Do you think the Germans have gone cuckoo?
Ah, yes, “they will come and save us” not “we’re all in this together”.
Typical Labour thinking.
I bumped into this detached and unbiased point of view.
http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/wara-austin-franco-taht-il-lenti/
Let’s put these in charge, shall we?
When hell freezes over!